Our Response to the BC Patient Experience Survey
- info519251
- Jul 30
- 1 min read
Updated: 7 days ago
The BC Ministry of Health is inviting British Columbians to take part in a new Patient Experience Survey.
In response to an earlier version of this survey, the ME|FM Society of BC prepared a written submission grounded in our own research: the BC Patient Experience Survey Report (October 2025), conducted in partnership with the National ME Action Network, BC Lyme Society, and ME Victoria Association. It's the largest survey of ME/CFS, fibromyalgia, Long COVID and Lyme patient experiences ever undertaken in British Columbia, with 1,045 respondents from every BC health authority, urban, rural and suburban alike. We're pleased to share that the Ministry acknowledged receipt of our submission.
The findings were stark and consistent across patient groups and regions, which tells us these are not isolated incidents but system-wide gaps:
93% had negative healthcare experiences
75% said their healthcare providers lack basic knowledge about their conditions
75% experienced simply not being believed
35% reported 11 or more different types of negative experiences
Our submission made clear that a quality assurance process built to address single episodes of harm will not fix shortcomings at this scale. A comprehensive solution is needed, and it involves:
Healthcare provider education
Individualized, accessible one-on-one care
Effective diagnostic pathways
We encourage our community to continue sharing their experiences through Ministry surveys when they're able to. Your voice, added to ours, helps push for the systemic change our community deserves.
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