RHFC_piper
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I know this was posted in The Sandbox and Areas Reports Thread August 2008, but I wanted to comment on it directly... so here it is again.
Posted with all the usual caveats.
Canadian troops get better care overseas: report
Article Link
Here's the part that intrigues me;
As much as I hate to say it; this article is 100% accurate.
The Hospitals in Kandahar (from what I remember of it) and Germany were amazing in terms of care, so much so that when they asked us (the wounded in Germany) where we wanted to go to recover once we got back to Canada (Ottawa or Toronto) I asked if I could stay in Germany... Once I got to Sunnybrook I wished they would have let me.
Since being home, getting care for injuries, both physical and psychological, has been an uphill battle. Even now after almost 2 years of being home I'm fighting almost daily for simple things like Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy (don't get any ideas, deep tissue massage is about as comfortable as being run over by an HLVW, but it eases the spasms around the wounds.), anxiety care and medication. It has come to the point where I have to get the senior most levels of my home unit involved, directly, with medical staff to push for things as basic as a medical appointment for extension of contract... Needless to say, this is very frustrating.
The article mentions "the Regimental Family" and how reservists are "disconnected" from it; well, I'm sure there are people in my home unit who would feel a little slighted by this as they're really trying to keep that connection strong. But, I believe what the article is referring to is the Regimental bond PRes members make with the Regiments they deploy with. As much as I am a Fusilier, I have shed more blood and tears with the RCR, which somehow makes them more my family. Don't get me wrong, as I've said, I'm still a Fusilier at heart, but that bond of blood is strong. And because of this, I do feel "disconnected" from my Regimental Family...
I'm not going to say it's harder for the Reserve members, 'cause I really don't think it is. We have strong civilian communities to support us, as well as the ability to "get away" from the military mindset when we need a break, and we don't have to travel far to get away since we're not surrounded by a base or a military community. As well, from discussing this very issue with fellow soldiers from tour, also injured in the same incident, who are Ref F; the Reservists are getting much better, though less frequent, attention since we're more "unique" in our community. For example; in my Regiment, there have only been 2 soldiers wounded since WW2 and I'm one of them... With in my Brigade there is only a handful of wounded reservists... Because of these facts, we're given a lot of special attention from all levels. It's not always timely, or efficient, but when we bitch people of much greater tactical importance tend to listen. From my discussions with my Reg Force counterparts, I have ascertained that this is not the case when recovering on base; when a big R corporal complains that the care they're getting (or not getting) is insufficient, they're but one in a sea of many... A number, not a name. And they're not unique in their community; everyone on base knows, or is related to, or works with someone who has been injured.
So, really, who has it worse? The Reservist; who gets excellent treatment by both civilian and military medical facilities, when they get medical attention, which is always an up hill fight... or the Regular Force member; who receives regular medical care, but sometimes not enough, or slips through the cracks due to the volume of other injured Reg F members. I think it's a tough call.
Anyway, I just wanted to vent some frustrations.
Posted with all the usual caveats.
Canadian troops get better care overseas: report
Article Link
Updated Wed. Aug. 13 2008 9:11 AM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Inconsistent care across the country means wounded Canadian soldiers returning from overseas may not be getting the most effective care, according to a senate report.
The senate committee on national security and defence finds that care for soldiers on the ground at Kandahar Air Field and at transitional facilities such as the one in Landstuhl, Germany is exceptional. There is, however, a greater challenge with the long term care that is needed from the Canadian health care system once soldiers return home.
Here's the part that intrigues me;
Reservists face greatest challenge
Kenny said the soldiers who face the toughest challenge are reservists, as they must often cope with rehabilitation without the support of their regiment.
He said regiments are like family and look after each other very well, but the very mobile nature of reservists poses a challenge.
"Some injuries (which are) more of a psychological or mental nature might manifest themselves six months later or eight months later, and your regimental family is too far from you to help, and that was a great concern that we had."
As much as I hate to say it; this article is 100% accurate.
The Hospitals in Kandahar (from what I remember of it) and Germany were amazing in terms of care, so much so that when they asked us (the wounded in Germany) where we wanted to go to recover once we got back to Canada (Ottawa or Toronto) I asked if I could stay in Germany... Once I got to Sunnybrook I wished they would have let me.
Since being home, getting care for injuries, both physical and psychological, has been an uphill battle. Even now after almost 2 years of being home I'm fighting almost daily for simple things like Physiotherapy, Massage Therapy (don't get any ideas, deep tissue massage is about as comfortable as being run over by an HLVW, but it eases the spasms around the wounds.), anxiety care and medication. It has come to the point where I have to get the senior most levels of my home unit involved, directly, with medical staff to push for things as basic as a medical appointment for extension of contract... Needless to say, this is very frustrating.
The article mentions "the Regimental Family" and how reservists are "disconnected" from it; well, I'm sure there are people in my home unit who would feel a little slighted by this as they're really trying to keep that connection strong. But, I believe what the article is referring to is the Regimental bond PRes members make with the Regiments they deploy with. As much as I am a Fusilier, I have shed more blood and tears with the RCR, which somehow makes them more my family. Don't get me wrong, as I've said, I'm still a Fusilier at heart, but that bond of blood is strong. And because of this, I do feel "disconnected" from my Regimental Family...
I'm not going to say it's harder for the Reserve members, 'cause I really don't think it is. We have strong civilian communities to support us, as well as the ability to "get away" from the military mindset when we need a break, and we don't have to travel far to get away since we're not surrounded by a base or a military community. As well, from discussing this very issue with fellow soldiers from tour, also injured in the same incident, who are Ref F; the Reservists are getting much better, though less frequent, attention since we're more "unique" in our community. For example; in my Regiment, there have only been 2 soldiers wounded since WW2 and I'm one of them... With in my Brigade there is only a handful of wounded reservists... Because of these facts, we're given a lot of special attention from all levels. It's not always timely, or efficient, but when we bitch people of much greater tactical importance tend to listen. From my discussions with my Reg Force counterparts, I have ascertained that this is not the case when recovering on base; when a big R corporal complains that the care they're getting (or not getting) is insufficient, they're but one in a sea of many... A number, not a name. And they're not unique in their community; everyone on base knows, or is related to, or works with someone who has been injured.
So, really, who has it worse? The Reservist; who gets excellent treatment by both civilian and military medical facilities, when they get medical attention, which is always an up hill fight... or the Regular Force member; who receives regular medical care, but sometimes not enough, or slips through the cracks due to the volume of other injured Reg F members. I think it's a tough call.
Anyway, I just wanted to vent some frustrations.