SA国际影视传媒淥f course, it had to screw up my hunting season.SA国际影视传媒�

Ken Hudson was diagnosed with non-HodgkinSA国际影视传媒檚 lymphoma in September. Aside from interrupting his hunting season, the disease meant Hudson would have to receive a series of monthly chemotherapy treatments outside of his home community of Fort Smith.

Having previously served as president of the Fort Smith M茅tis Council for two decades, Hudson said heSA国际影视传媒檚 used to advocating for others. However, as he was locked in a battle with cancer over the past four months, he also found himself fighting for accommodations that he feels should have been easily accessible.

For his first treatment in Edmonton in October, Hudson took his wife with him as a non-medical escort. The GNWT provides benefits for patients who require a non-medical escort as part of its Medical Travel Program. According to a document outlining the criteria for reimbursement, the policy is founded on the principles that SA国际影视传媒渢he cost of medical travel should not be an economic barrier to access Insured Health ServicesSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒淭he Medical Travel Program should be transparent and accountable.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t just eases your mind, helps you through the whole system,SA国际影视传媒� said Hudson.

The night before he left for his second treatment in Yellowknife, he still didnSA国际影视传媒檛 know where he would be staying when he arrived, meaning he had to drive up from Fort Smith a day early and pay for his own hotel.

SA国际影视传媒淵ouSA国际影视传媒檝e got nothing, no paperwork, nothing. Not even a scrap of paper with some dates on it. Nothing,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

When he arrived, he found out he was booked to stay at the Vital Abel Boarding Home, despite his immune system being compromised by the chemotherapy treatment.

SA国际影视传媒淚 canSA国际影视传媒檛 be staying at Vital Abel because every frickinSA国际影视传媒� disease known to man has probably been in that building one time,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

After arguing with Medical Travel staff, they eventually agreed to put him in a private hotel room.

Upon returning from Yellowknife, he found out that his request for reimbursement for his escort had been refused.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 no reason. They donSA国际影视传媒檛 give you a reason,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淭hey just say no.

SA国际影视传媒淪o that trip there, we still havenSA国际影视传媒檛 got the cheque back for (it). I think theySA国际影视传媒檙e still reviewing it or something. I donSA国际影视传媒檛 know what the hell theySA国际影视传媒檙e doing, but itSA国际影视传媒檚 not much money anyway. Maybe for some people it might be an issue.SA国际影视传媒�

Leading up to what was supposed to be his third treatment in December, also in Yellowknife, his wife was approved to be his escort three days before he was due to arrive.

Then, he got a call from his wife.

SA国际影视传媒淪he called back and said, SA国际影视传媒楾here are no seats on the plane. TheySA国际影视传媒檙e all full.SA国际影视传媒� So they didnSA国际影视传媒檛 reserve any seats on the plane,SA国际影视传媒� said Hudson.

He couldnSA国际影视传媒檛 go to his third treatment.

He was eventually able to receive chemotherapy again earlier this month. For his next round, from Feb. 7 to 9, he said he still doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 know if heSA国际影视传媒檒l be allowed an escort.

He contacted the office of the deputy health minister to raise his concerns, but to no avail.

SA国际影视传媒淭hey treat you like sheep. You know, you canSA国际影视传媒檛 question anything. As soon as you do youSA国际影视传媒檙e frickinSA国际影视传媒� labelled a troublemaker, which I am anyway,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Frieda Martselos, the Thebacha MLA representing Fort Smith, didnSA国际影视传媒檛 respond to a request for comment.

Hudson said he hopes the system will improve, not just for him, but for others who are vulnerable.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust imagine that a young person 18 years old has cancer and is sent out like I am, you know? ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 just not right,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA) spokesperson David Maguire said if an escort is recommended by a clinician but not approved by the NTHSSA, the clinician is contacted to provide further justification for their recommendation. The patient is then informed of the decision either through a Medical Travel Office or a local health centre.

SA国际影视传媒淭he NTHSSA strives to provide as much notification as possible,SA国际影视传媒� Maguire said.

He added that there is no standard time for when patients are given the details of their trip, including accommodations and allowances, but that medical travel is usually not coordinated earlier than three weeks before an appointment.