Toronto: Following a damning report by the Canadian Armed Forces medical team on long term care facilities, the Ontario government has appointed Cathy Fooks as Ontario’s new Patient Ombudsman.
She is expected to help improve the quality of care and supports people receive in hospitals, long-term care homes and in their own homes through home and community care, said a provincial press release.
Fooks will also oversee an investigation into the care and health care experiences of long-term care home residents during Covid-19. This work will complement the government’s independent commission into Ontario’s long-term care system which will begin in July 2020.
“Cathy Fooks brings over 30 years of experience advocating for change to improve the care Ontarians receive,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “Having served as Ontario’s first Patient Ombudsman, I know how this role can directly help people by shining a spotlight on how we can improve the quality of care for all Ontarians. I am confident Ms. Fooks will be a great partner by making sure all voices are heard and concerns are brought to our attention.”
The Patient Ombudsman provides support for Ontarians who have voiced concerns about their health care experience. The ombudsman also investigates unresolved complaints about public hospitals, long-term care homes and home and community care, and makes recommendations to the government to prevent the recurrence of similar issues.
Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care said Cathy will be working to “ensure seniors and their families are heard as we work to improve Ontario’s long-term care homes”.
Cathy Fooks said:”Patient and caregiver voices matter now more than ever and need to continue to be heard. They will help us to make the right changes that need to be done. I am here to ensure that happens, so we can continue to ensure Ontarians receive the quality of care they need and deserve.”
Ontario to resume family visits in Long-Term Care facilities
In consultation with the Chief Medical Officer of Health, the Ontario government announced the gradual resumption of visits to long-term care homes, retirement homes, and other residential care settings.
Family and friends will be allowed access to these settings beginning June 18. Long-term care homes will allow outdoor visits of one person per resident each week at a minimum. Retirement homes will resume indoor and outdoor visits in designated areas or resident suites when physical distancing can be maintained. Other residential care settings will be able to allow outdoor visits of two people at time. Physical distancing will be required for all visits. This approach will ensure the health and safety of residents, staff and visitors.
“Thanks to the hard work of our frontline workers and the collective efforts of everyone in stopping the spread, we can now allow families to reunite with their loved ones safely and in person with strict public health measures to protect residents, visitors and staff,” said Premier Ford. “But I ask everyone to be cautious and act responsibly as the battle to contain Covid-19 is not over and the risk to our loved ones still remains.”
Visits will resume next Thursday, one week after the release of visitor guidelines. They will be subject to strict health and safety protocols, including requiring visitors to pass active screening every time they visit, confirming with staff that they have tested negative for Covid-19 within the previous two weeks, and complying with the infection prevention and control protocols. This includes bringing and wearing a face covering during visits.
Conditions to be met
Additionally, long-term care and retirement homes, as well as other residential care settings, must meet the following conditions before they welcome visitors:
- Homes must not be in outbreak;
- Homes must have an established process for communicating visitor protocol and the associated safety procedures; and
- Homes must maintain the highest infection prevention and control standards.
For retirement homes, visitor admissions will vary from home to home depending upon their individual circumstances.
Other residential care settings will also be allowed visitors under similar rules. These residential care settings include homes serving people with developmental disabilities, shelters for survivors of gender-based violence, and children’s residential settings.
Visits have been restricted since mid-March, with only essential visitors permitted to enter long-term care and retirement homes.
Ontario lifting 30-day supply limit on prescriptions
With the supply of many drugs and medications having stabilized in the province, the Ontario government is lifting the recommended 30-day supply limit for dispensing Ontario Drug Benefit program medications. Effective June 15, 2020, program recipients can return to filling up to 100-day supply at a time from their pharmacy or dispensing physician, when appropriate.
Ontario Drug Benefit recipients’ co-payments will return to their previous amounts. People are encouraged to buy the medications they need in reasonable quantities. This will help ensure that everyone can get their prescriptions filled as we continue to try to stop the spread of Covid-19. The province will continue to monitor the situation to ensure there are no disruptions to the drug supply chain in the future.
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