Hello Canadians!

[starsparkle]

I was wondering if there are any Canadian crohnie's out there that could give me some advice/info.

I'm from Glasgow, Scotland and looking to apply for a Working Holiday Visa for Canada when the 2013 allocation opens in December.

I've researched this extensively & think it would be a good change for me (for a while at least - the visa will allow me to live, work & travel in Canada for upto 12 months with the option of applying for a 2nd visa at the end of this).

The only thing that is concerning me is care/treatment for my crohn's while I'm there. I'm not currently on any meds or anything and only see my consultant once a year at present (one major flare in 2009 before I was diagnosed - since then I've basically been trying to manage through diet).

Thing is, if I do flare when I'm in Canada, need any medication, treatment, hospital admissions, emergency treatment etc - what would I do? I would obviously have travel/backpacking insurance but would I have access to a Gastroentrologist or the treatment I needed?

Finally, iffffff I ever did manage to secure permanent residency (provided I want to go for this and am able to) whats the set up in terms of healthcare? Im used to using the NHS in Scotland where EVERYTHING is covered (including all prescription costs) - are gastro clinics/treatment covered by your healthcare system? What about medication, hospital admissions, visits to doctor, emergency treatments, surgery etc? Its a bit of minefield for someone who has taken our UK health service for granted up til now.

Hope someone can give me some info.

Thanks!

 

[BSweet]

Hi Starsparkle. I might be able to assist... In a "previous life" I was a National Manager (all of Canada) enabling me to become acquainted with various provincial health care and recruitment of (commonwealth) visa holders.

Currently I am in Alberta and I have to say, this has been a great province for Doctors, Resources and Quick Turn around times. I have tested roughly 4 other provinces and Alberta has been the top ranking. Different provinces cover different things....ook at provincial sites (i.e. Alberta Health Services, Ontario (OHIP), Health Insurance BC, etc.) to find out which provincial healthcare system covers you the most.

Generally when you are working with a company you can get onto their benefits (healthcare program) this assists with healthcare, dental, prescription, ambulance, hospital stays, etc. They generally do not start for after 3 months, but you may be able to negotiate it in sooner.

I apologize for the truncated message their is a vast amount of information surrounding your questions that this could turn into a novel.

If you need information, I missed something or you just thing of something healthcare or employment questions, let me know. I might be able to assist :ysmile:

 

[AlliRuns]

Having access to the right doctors really depends on where you live in Canada. Atlantic provinces (East) have a small population and thus less access to doctors and LONG waiting lists. (Long might actually be an understatement). I currently live in Ontario and my city has a great GI team.

 

[BSweet]

AlliRuns, how long would you say the wait list is? I am moving back to Ontario next fall and that is my main concern, not being able to get into one. I know when before I moved from Ontario finding a good doc. was getting harder.

 

[AlliRuns]

BSweet: I live in Kingston and I only waited a month to get into the GI once I was referred. But I was referred from the surgeon and not from my GP.

 

[ontariomom]

I got referred to a local surgeon from my NP and GP then from there he referred me to a Colorectal Surgeon, which i waited approx 3 months, then my Colorectal Surgeon referred me to a GI in which i waited another 2-4 months. But i found if i went to the NP or GP they would call down to the specialists and that would hurry my appt up. In fact i am waiting on information and another appt , and its been 4 weeks now so i am going to go see my NP and get her to hurry it along again.

I dont live near any major cities, my GI is just over 2 hrs away in london.

 

[starsparkle]

Thanks for your replies so far guys. Looks like I'll need to do a bit of digging in terms of what would be available to me (both in terms of accessability and costs) before making any major decisions - at the moment I think its mostly likely to be Ontario I'll be heading to - I suppose as I only see my GI once a year here in the UK at the moment I wouldnt need to find one right away in Canada (not at least for my Working Holiday Visa) and just wait it out to see if I end up staying long term or not (Im sure I could go to a hospital using my travellers insurance should there be an emergency situation in but given my current state of health - I'm hoping that wouldnt be a issue). The thought of emigrating (at least for a while) with Crohns is pretty scary - throws up a whole other set of issues that I guess other folk wouldnt really have to think about unless something went wrong with their health - but I do think the move would do my stress levels the world of good (I just need a change)which cant be a bad thing for keeping the crohns in check eh?!

 

[BSweet]

Good Luck Starsparkle! It will be a great adventure!