KINGS COUNTY, N.S. - There’s a sense of dread weighing on Karen Hasler’s mind daily.
“Everyone should have access to constant, continuous and uninterrupted care with the same physician,” she said on Dec. 13.
That’s hardly the case for Karen or her husband, Mervyn Hasler. The couple returned to Nova Scotia in August 2017 after spending 10 years in Alberta for work.
They moved home to be closer to their daughters. But the timing turned out to be anything but ideal.
Mervyn was diagnosed with a heart condition a couple of months before the move. He had no trouble accessing the medical care he needed in Edmonton.
ALSO SEE:
‘WE SHOULDN’T HAVE TO WONDER’: DOCTOR SHORTAGE HITS HOME FOR ANNAPOLIS VALLEY PATIENTS
In February, the couple shared their frustrations about being on a wait list for a family practice in Nova Scotia with Kings County News for the first time.
They’re still counted among the thousands of Nova Scotians seeking a family doctor.
“We think close to half the doctors we have seen in the past 16 months have retired,” said Karen.
“We can’t even find out where we are located on this wait list… doctors appear to take on patients who may not be on the list.”
Mervyn, she noted, has been waiting for an appointment with a cardiologist in the Valley for seven months.
“We are very disappointed and frustrated,” she said.
“Our health has been stable recently, but we dread the thought of something unforeseen happening.”
