31-month MRI wait leaves Alberta woman facing health uncertainty
Chronic pain patient won't see a specialist until December 2028, raising concerns about two-tier healthcare system.
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A Red Deer woman scheduled for an MRI appointment in December 2028 — 31 months away — is confronting the stark reality of Alberta's healthcare delays.
Linda Burns, dealing with deferred pain in her neck following spinal fusion surgery years ago, had her MRI requisition submitted in early May expecting a 12- to 15-month wait. Instead, Alberta Health Services scheduled her for nearly two and a half years out.
"Two and a half years? I could be paralyzed," Burns said. "A lot can happen." Her doctor suspects disk degeneration in her neck, but only an MRI can confirm the diagnosis and determine if surgery is needed.
Burns' frustration is compounded by the provincial government's push toward a two-tier system through Bill 11, which allows some doctors to work in both public and private healthcare. "I'm a senior on a fixed income," she said. "Why am I having to put this money out for private healthcare when I've paid into the system my entire life?"
Chris Gallaway, executive director of Friends of Medicare, says Burns' experience reflects a pattern. "The provincial government is creating a system where those with the ability to pay get to skip the queue," he said. "We regularly hear from people who are told it'll be two years to get an MRI but if you pay, you could get it in the next couple weeks."
Gallaway called for a comprehensive healthcare workforce plan focused on diagnostics capacity, not just policy tweaks.