Doctor Shortage or No Doctor Shortage?

I recently saw a reel by a woman who works in public health in the Toronto area. She posts about tips to find a primary care practitioner because the media are always talking about the doctor shortage in Toronto and around the country. What this woman is saying is that the numbers are overblown, and that it is actually easier than one is led to believe. She even went on to say that she was able to find 60 doctors accepting new patients.

Sure it seems easy, if that’s entirely true. If you speak English comfortably enough. But Toronto is full of newcomers, many, if not most, are NOT comfortable speaking English. What to do there? The shortage for doctors that can service THEM is even greater. If I were looking, I could go to anyone who is taking in new patients. But someone who just came here from, say, Ukraine or China, would not. Do you see where I’m coming from (though I’d probably guess that the person from China would have a slightly EASIER time due to language demographics)? If you don’t, you probably don’t grow up with relatives who barely functioned in one of our official languages you If that’s the case, I’d like you to at least TRY to understand. I saw it with my own eyes with my family - my mom often accompanied my grandparents to appointments with specialists since it’s harder to find specialists who speak your language. It’s your health we’re talking about, so it’s important that you’re able to understand how to care for yourself. With all the talk about accommodation and diversity, why is it that language is often left out of the picture? And it can be related to ability, too. Imagine being deaf and no one knows sign? People don’t like looking helpless. People don’t want to burden others. Plus, if you DO need a translator, the OTHER person also has to take time off. Do you know where I’m getting at?

If we want to be accommodating and increase diversity and inclusion, why don’t we talk about language? It seems to take a back burner over so-called “visible diversity.” Why IS that? And why don’t people WANT to talk about it? I get that many don’t think about it much because they speak one or both of Canada’s official languages (and let’s face it, most people here in English-speaking Canada don’t know enough French to say that they speak it) and basically get the services they need. But people, can’t you at least try? If you can try to put yourselves in the shoes of those from different cultural backgrounds who may be discriminated based on skin colour, why don’t you do that for those who don’t speak a majority language? Use your heads, people and don’t be stupid.

Input on this would be great! Do YOU find that language challenges are less likely brought up?