With the look of health-care systems and services around the globe, I'm glad I live here. We are a healthy family and I have the attitude of not wanting to bother anyone if I don't have to, but we have always been treated well at the small clinic in our town.
Most of the doctors come and go and when we have to fill in forms asking for our family doctor's name we use the name of the clinic instead.
I am intrigued by the past and have listened to stories about operations and deliveries at the tiny hospitals in this and other small towns in decades past. The system is much different these days.
My experience with hospitals was limited to the birth of my children, a couple of trips in for stitches and visiting sick relatives. Most of the trips were to big city hospitals with busy wards and lots of noise.
Last week I was scheduled for a minor surgery in North Battleford. The last time I had been in Battlefords Union Hospital was years ago after my now late grandmother broke a bone and was confined to a bed there before moving to a care home.
When family members found out I was going in for surgery they were surprised I wasn't going to Saskatoon or Edmonton for the procedure. I had put my trust in a specialist from North Battleford who was also my surgeon and with it my trust in the hospital.
I arrived at the facility earlier than I usually wake up feeling sort of like I do when we have to get to the airport two hours before an early flight. I had been worried about the incisions and the general anaesthetic, so I was nervous when we arrived ,but still trusting.
Everyone at the hospital was friendly and helpful. They answered my silly questions and were patient with me. Even while walking from floor to floor wearing a tied-in-the-back and much too large gown I still felt they helped maintain my dignity.
Nothing was hurried and in the few hours I was there I was cared for in some way by more than a dozen people.
I'm glad trips to the hospital aren't more frequent but if I had to have more attention I know I would be in good hands there, where I really did feel the care.
