Winnipeg woman speaks out after daughter struggled to access treatment at RAAM clinic – Winnipeg | 24CA News
Winnipegger Della George is talking out after her daughter struggled to entry therapy at a Rapid Access to Addictions Medicine clinic (RAAM).
Shared Health, Manitoba’s provincial well being group, markets them as “easy-to-access walk-in clinics” on-line, however George stated, sufferers waited exterior within the chilly.
A lady in line instructed them the clinics generally solely enable three purchasers in and switch the remainder away, which shocked George.
“Why would they turn people away? These people are lining up like us, you know, in this cold and why would they turn them away?” she stated. “This was maybe their only chance. I had no idea that was a real struggle for our people that are addicted and not being able to access, you know, the clinic.”
George’s eldest daughter suffered a neck damage from a automotive accident greater than 15 years in the past that required ache treatment, she stated. George suspects the aftermath led to her daughter’s long-term challenges with habit.
“That really changed her. She became a person I didn’t know,” George stated.
She says her daughter made a miraculous restoration, which amazed docs, however her struggles didn’t finish there. After years of unsuccessful makes an attempt to get her addictions assist, an in depth name at George’s home two weeks in the past modified every part.
“She was just totally out of it,” she stated. “I kept on checking up on her to see if she was breathing.”
The subsequent morning, George took her daughter and associate to a Winnipeg RAAM clinic on Magnus Ave. the place they had been instructed to face exterior.
To George’s disbelief, no less than 10 sufferers had been ready in line within the chilly with no assure they’d be seen that day.
George’s daughter obtained in with the assistance of a neighborhood group, however she needs the province to supply extra sources to ensure everybody will get therapy once they present up.
Shared Health says it’s working to increase entry.
A spokesperson instructed Global News a brand new Indigenous-led RAAM clinic, the seventh within the province, will open at Winnipeg’s Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre in late May, with $900k in funding the province introduced earlier this yr.
“It’s good that they’re planning it, but we needed it now, not like months later,” George stated.
“I didn’t realize how powerful addiction is, you know, especially with opiates.”
George stated she hopes different individuals will have the ability to start their journey to restoration with out having to face limitations.
—With information from Global’s Rosanna Hempel
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
