Your family doctor is busy so you’re eating herbs now?
Good morning from the Atlantic — three provinces, five communities, and the stories that cross every border.
Now look, I've heard a lot of yarns about folks in Prince Edward Island finding ways around a problem, but this one out of Summerside caught my ear something shocking. We've all been feeling the pinch when it comes to getting in to see a doctor, haven't we? The waitlists are longer than a winter night on the North Shore. But one Islander, struggling to get face time with her family doctor, decided to turn to "holistic health care." We're talking herbs, b'y. Proper folk medicine, not the kind you pick up at the Shoppers Drug Mart down by Confederation Court Mall.
### The Big Picture for Islanders
It’s not just her, mind you. CBC’s Taylor O’Brien spoke with her, and it seems like more and more Islanders are looking for alternatives when the mainstream system feels like it's jammed up. While it might sound a bit quaint to outsiders, it highlights a real, serious issue right here on the Island. We're a small place, and everyone knows someone who’s been waiting months for an appointment. It's not just an inconvenience; it can be life-altering when you can’t get the care you need.
* **Access Challenges:** Long wait times for family doctor appointments. * **Growing Trend:** More Islanders exploring alternative, holistic health options. * **Real Impact:** This isn't just a quirky story; it points to significant gaps in our healthcare system.
This isn’t about whether the herbs work, now. This is about what happens when people in Charlottetown, Summerside, and right across the Island feel so cut off from regular healthcare that they’re willing to try anything. It’s a testament to Islander ingenuity, sure, but it’s also a flashing red light for what we need to fix. We're not a postcard, we're a region with real problems, and access to basic healthcare shouldn't be one of them.
Bridget Chicken-MacPhail, MiTL Sports Desk, Charlottetown.
My cousin on the show is talking about this and more, catch it live at mornings.live.