Perth Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece continues to try to push the provincial government to keep long term care beds in the Sebringville area.
The province is considering moving 50 long-term care beds out of Hillside Manor to London.
Pettapiece has asked the Minister of Health and Long Term Care, Eric Hoskins, to listen to many of his constituents who are calling and writing asking that those beds stay in the community
Hoskins responded by implying that he had asked the private long term care operator to consult with local politicians.
But Pettapiece says that did not happen, suggesting the province is trying to pass the buck to the private operator of Hillside.
“Obviously, nobody asked me, as a member of the opposition, if I thought it was a good idea to take beds away from the people I represent,” Pettapiece says. “The minister seems to want to pass the buck to Revera, Hillside’s private operator. That’s unfortunate.”
“Consulting the community and making sure we in rural Ontario have proper access to the beds we need is the government’s responsibility. The health minister should know that,” Pettapiece adds.
The government plans a short meeting at 12:30pm on June 20 in Mitchell, which was advertised with a small notice in one local newspaper.
“Their process is flawed,” Pettapiece says. “Based on my conversations with ministry staff, I’m hopeful they will do more.”
Hoskins says no decision has been made yet.
Pettapiece urges the government to expand consultation, and he suggests people to sign his petition urging the government not to eliminate long-term care beds in Perth County.
Pettapiece’s petition is available on his website. Constituents can also pick up copies at his office, or call 1-800-461-9701 to have a petition mailed to them.
Completed petitions can be returned in their original form to Pettapiece’s constituency office at 55 Lorne Ave. E, Unit 2, Stratford, Ontario, N5A 6S4.
