An advocate for patients has been learning some disturbing facts about long-term care homes in the age of COVID-19.
The Patient Ombudsman, which works in an objective manner to resolve complaints about health care in Ontario, has been asking patients, their families, and healthcare workers in long-term care and nursing homes to provide information on conditions in those homes. The one thing the Ombudsman has learned, though, is that Ontario's long-term care housing industry is in crisis, only exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
Craig Thompson, the executive director for the Patient Ombudsman, told BlackburnNews.com that his office has seen an elevated number of complaints about the long-term care system, especially since the COVID-19 crisis got rolling in Ontario.
"Since March 2, we've received 143 complaints related to COVID-19, so that's over 40 per cent of the complaints that we've received in total," said Thompson.
With long-term care facilities across the province now the focus of most of the new coronavirus cases, concerns have been raised about infection control, staffing shortages, and little or no communication. But Thompson said these only scratched the surface and revealed more serious issues.
"The most alarming complaints are the ones that involve situations where the basic care needs for residents are not being met," said Thompson. "That comes from complaints about staffing shortages."
With the Patient Ombudsman, people submit a complaint in writing. While it does not conduct investigations itself, the office takes the information and seeks a resolution after hearing all sides of the story. If the complaint is serious enough to involve situations where the well-being of patients and/or staff is in grave danger, the Patient Ombudsman passes the information along to the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Long-Term Care, Ontario Health, and local health units in an investigation of the matter with hopes of reaching a solution.
According to the Ministry of Health's figures as of Monday evening, 150 long-term care homes across Ontario are under some kind of outbreak protocol. There are 2,523 confirmed COVID-19 cases among patients, and an additional 1,187 for long-term care staff. To date, 671 residents have died from the virus.
Anyone wanting to file a complaint about long-term care homes, or any aspect of Ontario health care, may do so by visiting the official Patient Ombudsman website, or by calling toll-free at 1-888-321-0339.
-With files from Adelle Loiselle
