Wait times report does not reflect reality for northern families: Saskatoon mother
A new report from the Fraser Institute indicates the wait time to see a specialist in Saskatchewan is the lowest in the country, but according to one Saskatoon mother, the report does not reflect the actual experiences for families living North of Saskatoon.
Lindsay Arnesen made the decision last March to move to Saskatoon from Prince Albert, so she could get in to see a specialist sooner. Arnesen’s seven-year-old son was diagnosed with severe anxiety and attention deficit disorder and Arnesen was told the wait time to see a psychologist would be six months. During this time Arnesen herself was involved in a bad accident and suffered a right orbital fracture to her skull. She said she was told by doctors the wait time to see a neurologist would be over six months.
“Upon moving to Saskatoon in March we were able to deal with a specialist within a one-month time frame,” she said.
Arnesen said she is not alone with her specialist concerns — citing one friend she knows who is constantly travelling back and from Edmonton. Arnesen’s own situation has improved greatly since moving to Saskatoon, as both her and her son are able to see a neurologist and a pediatrician on a regular schedule. While relieved to receive better care, Arnesen said it’s frustrating to think what she had to go through to make it happen.