P.E.I. patient registry: Islanders share their stories

One P.E.I. resident's appeal to put an end to what he calls "line jumping" on the provincial patient registry has struck a nerve with Islanders.

Cornwall resident David Bulger has been on the registry for 18 months in an effort to get a family doctor, but said others have skipped the line because of who they know.

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"It turns us into a bunch of rats scrambling for whatever pieces of flotsam we can find before the ship sinks, competing in effect with other people in an attempt to find a physician," he said.

The province said people have the right to look for a family doctor outside of the registry.

CBC P.E.I. posted the story on Facebook, prompting many Islanders to share their own experiences with the registry — or securing a doctor outside of it.

(Editor's note: usernames are not necessarily the real names of commenters. Some comments have been altered slightly to correct spelling and to conform to CBC style.)

'I guess we're line jumpers'

"When I moved to P.E.I, 13 years ago, I had no knowledge of a patient registry and did exactly what I did when I moved to Ontario — I began calling family practitioners, dentists, massage therapists, family counsellors, naturopaths, etc. to find new providers," wrote Wendy Chappel.

Chappel said with a family of five, including a child with multiple medical and developmental needs, she needed a fair bit of persistence to find a family doctor.

"I never thought of myself as a line-jumper though. Having spent many years having to assertively advocate for educational support and family support services, I was simply a person seeking what is supposed to be available to all families."

Kristine Gallant wrote that she jumped the queue when she moved to the Island four-and-a-half years ago.

"[I] was lucky enough to be taken on by a wonderful doctor who took on my husband and kids as well," she wrote. "I was pregnant at the time which is why I jumped I guess."

Chantell Gautreau-Virtue said her child has severe asthma, and they spent multiple nights in the emergency room upon moving to P.E.I. 

"Rather than copious amounts of dangerous steroids, I demanded he see a pediatrician. If we knew moving to P.E.I. could leave our young family without healthcare, we wouldn't have left," she wrote.

"I guess we're 'line-jumpers' as well … I have zero guilt about jumping the line. It's our job to advocate for our children, just like it's the province's job to supply adequate healthcare."

Long waits for some

Other shared their own stories of facing long waits on the patient registry.

"My dad's been on it for 21 months. He's 72 years old!" said Melissa DeJong. "The province wants to be senior-friendly yet they fail seniors in the most important area."

"I've been on the list since August, my husband will join me in April," wrote Robin Petty. "Thankful we are both healthy."

"My husband and I have been on the registry for 16 months so far," wrote Melanie Stetson. "It is stressful not having a family doctor."

"My brother and myself have been on registry for three years so far!" commented Linda A Szekeres.

On Twitter, Suzanne O'Callaghan said she's still waiting for a doctor after more than a decade.