Unfortunately things have changed in Canadian medicine, but not for the better.
From living in Northern Maine, I'm sure you're familiar with Woodstock - small town, about the same size as Houlton (approximately 5000 people), with a small hospital which was built some time around WWII. We have approximately 12 general practitioners in town, two surgeons, and a heart specialist. It's a given that in a town of this size with a high rate of drug and alcohol abuse and welfare recipients, the dozen or so doctors are extremely overworked.
Our hospital is understaffed, under equipped, and under utilized. We no longer have a pediatrics ward open - if your child has to be hospitalized, you had best be prepared to stay with them because the nursing staff is not prepared to deal with children. Chances are your child will be admitted to the adult ward.
The biggest reason that people admire Canadian medicine is that it is "free". We do not pay directly for office visits or hospitalization. We do pay for dental and optical services and for our prescriptions, but not for any procedures done by a hospital or a physician or surgeon. However, we pay dearly through our taxes - here in NB, every dollar we spend costs us another 15 cents in taxes - 8 cents provincial and 7 cents federal, combined to be called a "harmonized sales tax". That is in addition to "sin" taxes included in the price of alcohol, tobacco, and gas.
So don't look north with wistful eyes - our "free" Canadian medical system is not so free nor so perfect. We cannot simply make an appointment to see any specialist or pain clinic, we have to be referred by our family physician, who has to be convinced by tests or visible evidence that we need that referral. Then we have to wait.
The waiting is sometimes the killer too. My Other Half has been waiting since April for surgery on his right leg. He has had two blood clots in that time, and he goes for surgery on Friday. That's a 7-month wait for a procedure that may save his life - both clots have been above the knee, which means that if they had not been dissolved by drugs, either of them could have killed him by breaking loose and going to his heart. I waited 9 months for the diagnostic laparoscopy, and I've been waiting 6 months now for an appointment with the pain clinic, with another 4 to 6 months before I get in. I was referred to a general surgeon in June, and so far have heard nothing yet.
Sorry girls, guess I've got a bit of a bitch on today. Hope everyone else is doing better.
Nancy in NB