the good doctor On: It Is With A Sad Heart…..
Blog Vol.II, # 20. It Is With A Sad Heart…..
Back in the spring of 1983, I applied to Optometry School at Waterloo, hoping that I could get into the four year program for the fall. There were many reasons for wanting to become an optometrist, some of them altruistic. I wanted to be in a helping profession and I knew a bit about eyes, being a spectacle and contact lens wearer for some time. I was also inspired by my optometrist in London, Dr. Brian Garnett, who was very enthusiastic about eye care and quite frankly, was tops in his field of contact lenses (not to mention being a top flight curler -- he could see the broom and hit it every time, as the saying goes). I did get into the optometry program and have thoroughly enjoyed the work, especially the people. Right now is the first time in my career that I have had to volitionally deny services to patients. As of September 1st, the optometrists of Ontario have come together in job action to make sure Ontarians will receive quality eye care into the distant future.
I miss my patients. They are the reason I go to work every day. After being in practice for over 34 years, you have spent a good deal of time with your patients. Nothing against my younger patients, thank you for coming in during September. Like they say, new friends are silver but old friends are gold. I would like to apologize to my older patients for having to take this course. I have been known to say that I would show up for work, even I did not get paid. Little did I know that the government would take me at my word. An 18% increase in OHIP funding over 32 years is inadequate. Unfortunately, the negotiations go on and on or not….
My hope is that this action will be short lived. The best way to do this is to put pressure on the Ford government. We have collected over 300,000 signatures and letters and have submitted them to Queen’s Park. We have to keep the pressure up. That means getting every Ontarian possible to send a letter to their MPP or to Premier Ford. Here is the link.
As a people, we need to be looking to the future of eye care.
As an office, especially my front staff, we are determined to see it through.
As a doctor, I can’t wait to get back to seeing my patients.
Til next week,
The Good Doctor, Dr. Mark Germain, Burlington Optometrist.
