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.
