Richard Poole is a local resident in Lake Cowichan. He is 67 years of age and lives on his pension and disability. No longer able to work, he relies upon the government to address his health needs.
Last year, Poole was in the Duncan hospital for seven days for colon problems. He still continues to see his doctor for gastrointestinal issues, and was recently scheduled for a colonoscopy to take place on Monday, Feb.13.
A pre-operative medicine is required before this type of procedure can happen, and it carries a cost of $47.80. When asking for the funds to purchase this medicine, he was denied.
He says that he was told that according to legislation, the government no longer pays for pre-operative medicine for exploratory procedures, even when it is a senior living on only a pension and disability.
Poole came to The Gazette as a last resort in hopes that something could be done for him. While at the seniors’ roundtable on Saturday morning with Jean Crowder, his story was brought forward as an issue that may be relevant to senior care issues.
Although Crowder did offer to give Poole the phone number to Bill Routley’s office so that they would take care of this nominal cost for him, it was local senior residents at the meeting (who wish to remain anonymous) that reached into their pockets and gave the necessary funds to purchase the medicine for Mr. Poole.
After the meeting on Saturday, Mr. Poole’s required medicine was purchased at the local pharmacy and delivered it to him.
He will be able to have his surgery now, and it is all thanks to the good people of Lake Cowichan.
Although new to this community, being witness to the generosity and kind heartedness of the local residents made me very proud to live here.
On behalf of Mr. Poole and The Gazette, thank you Lake Cowichan for treating others as you would like to be treated.