Bacon Scrapins are the little bits of meat left in the greasy fry pan. They’re tasty, but the ‘nutrition’ needs searching for. This tale is a bacon scrapin.

Change is stimulating. Change is exciting. Change is how we fulfill our aspirations. Change is a life-force for positive growth. Balderdash!

When my wife and I sold our previous home, changed towns, and bought a home in this ‘9-stop-sign’ sized community, we were as excited as if we were newly-weds moving into our first place.

In between ‘sold and settled in’, however, is a time of uncertainty and immense frustration. No, I’m not talking about all the cardboard moving boxes that had to be cut up into sizes the recycle truck would take. Nor about the renovations in transitioning from the ‘old place’ to making ‘our new home’ compatible. Nope, it’s worse.

We’re at that age when it’s essential to have ready access to a family doctor. They are the “gatekeepers” to the entire medical system. You can’t get in without a doctor’s referral.

Surprisingly, finding an optometrist was not hindered by Covid-19 restrictions. It was because the province and the optometrists were arguing over what their services were worth for ‘old people’, that is for those of us over 65. But, the optometrists showed “good will” by continuing services during protracted negotiations with the government, so we’re now “in” – for now – at a fine spot.

A dentist was easiest. We found an excellent practice within 12 minutes’ drive. The entire team is welcoming, chatty and full of enthusiastic bonhomie. In fact, we get along so well that after my first visit we agreed that I’d schedule two more chances for us all to get together, and I could make two more payments on new cars for all of them.

Finding a family doctor is harder than detecting a four-leafed clover in March. The provincial health “helpline” made me conclude that, 1) They’ll help you find a family doctor – eventually, maybe. 2) You have to officially quit being a patient with your present doctor, who is now 2 hours away in good weather, before they’ll start looking for one for you. 3) There’s no guarantee you’ll get a referral to a new doctor who is closer than 2 hours away. 4) There’s a good chance you’ll be dead anyway before you hear back from them.

Naively my wife and I assumed that finding the right home in the right location was all we needed to do. We didn’t even consider the fact that we were not only in competition with folks looking for a house, but also seeking a family doctor.

My wife and I have raised the topic of our quest for a doctor with anyone we meet. We’ve tried getting on waiting lists – that are ‘closed’ as they await more doctors to their practice. I’ve gone online with Google, made lists of names, addresses and phone numbers. I’ve listened to hours of doctors’ automatic message machines.

Now you’re guessing ahead and expect me to now tell you that we found a doctor, right? This is a bacon scrapin’, not a fairy tale. No satisfying ending here. No! Like hundreds of others, we still do not have a local family doctor.

But, I’ve got a ‘process suggestion’ for those who are responsible for medical care and housing policies in the province. Gather data where people are moving out of and into within the province. Track which areas are declining and which areas are increasing in populations – and at what rate. Plot the trends and make predictions.

Here’s where housing and family doctors might come together. The provincial, regional and municipal governments could place a requirement that all new ‘increased density’ housing projects have space reserved for family practices to either rent or purchase the space outright. Governments could coordinate among developers in a region so that they ‘share’ the requirement to provide medical care among them as regulated by the government body. Thus, any increase in population in a region is matched by an increase in medical care – including new hospitals. I’m guessing this idea will go on a ‘waiting list’ somewhere.

I will tell you, though, how I handle that nagging concern at the back of my head that either of us will need a quick response from a family doctor, close by. I have found a stress reliever that puts me in total control of my ‘issues’. I have simply written a regular appointment, no waiting list, into my planner.

My appointment – for medicinal purposes only – is at the L.C.B.O.