Evidence of meeting #26 for National Defence in the 39th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was clients.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Conservative
As an Individual
My guess is that in New Brunswick there are fewer than 20 practitioners.
Conservative
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
Okay. I know it's difficult to tell us how many treatments are necessary, because patients aren't Chevrolets; they respond differently to the same therapy. But can you tell the committee how many treatments are needed before you start seeing a benefit? And what would be the average number for complete recovery? I'm again asking our psychologists. Is there any way to answer that?
As an Individual
It is so dependent on how they come in. We have done a lot of work with people from every tour. We're getting some people who have come in 11 years post-tour. By that time, you know it's going to take a long time.
I think perhaps with Afghanistan we may be able to get some idea of that. But again, we're getting people coming in who have had multiple tours and multiple traumas, so it is very case-specific.
Conservative
Gary Goodyear Conservative Cambridge, ON
All right. I'm going to leave the rest of my time to my colleague. Thank you very much.
Conservative
Cheryl Gallant Conservative Renfrew—Nipissing—Pembroke, ON
I'm going to make some comments and ask questions at the end, in the interest of time.
It seems that if a soldier is identified for potential medical release, it makes more sense for a community-based practitioner to be taking care of the patient. After all, once they are released they have to go through the screening business all over again.
You mentioned that the number of visits were curtailed at a certain point and that help is most effective the sooner the patient receives help. That is a big concern. I am the MP for Petawawa, and the broken soldiers are telling me that it has been 18 months and they still haven't seen a provider for the very first time. In fact, one day our committee for veterans affairs visited. One man had been waiting 18 months, and it just so happened that he was going to see a provider for the very first time that day.
I am told that there is a new centre standing at CFB Petawawa, but I haven't been able to verify that for myself.
I have a question for Dr. Geneau. You mentioned that you also see the families of military personnel. Does the member's insurance plan cover the treatment when you see dependants?
As an Individual
Dependants are covered under Sun Life. They have a $1,000 entitlement under their Sun Life plan. They have to pay, though, and get a receipt and send the receipt in through the mail and wait maybe four to six weeks for reimbursement. It is a complaint among those people that they do not find it a reasonable way of receiving services.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Rick Casson
Sorry, Ms. Gallant, but we're out of time. I apologize. We have another panel. That is very unfortunate. This has been a good session, and we could sure use some more questions, but we're going to have to suspend for a minute to move in camera for our next panel.
I want to thank you all very much. You have come a ways. Some of you answered more questions than others, but we will use your testimony in our report, I am sure.
[Proceedings continue in camera]