A CLOSER LOOK AT AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT ON LONG-TERM CARE IN ONTARIO & HOSPITALS GIVEN NEW EMERGENCY ORDERS

Libby Znaimer is joined by MPP Sarah Singh (Brampton Centre), Deputy Leader of the official opposition NDP and critic for seniors, home care and long-term care followed by David Cravit, Vice President of Zoomer Media, and Doris Grinspun, CEO of the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario.

Two important developments this week: Auditor General Bonnie Lysyk released her report on the long-term care sector this morning. We get reaction to the findings. And, we are now learning that Ontario hospitals have been given an emergency order to be able to move patients into long-term care homes without their consent, if needed, in the latest effort to alleviate hospital pressures amid the third wave.

THE CRISIS AT ONTARIO HOSPITALS AMID THIRD WAVE ACCORDING TO A CRITICAL CARE DOCTOR

Libby Znaimer is joined by Dr. Jamie Spiegelman, internal medicine and critical care physician at Humber River Hospital.

We’ve been hearing about it for weeks: the third COVID-19 wave has resulted in increased hospitalizations and has been burdening ICUs. Dr. Spiegelman joins the program to provide a first-hand account of what is happening in his own hospital and details the lack of nurses on staff to support COVID-19 patients. He also comments on the province’s plan to move alternative level of care patients to nursing homes in an effort to alleviate pressures in the health care system.

ONTARIO PSWs TO BE REGULATED BY PROVINCE

Libby Znaimer is joined by Miranda Ferrier, President and Founder of the Ontario Personal Support Worker Association (OPSWA).

This week we learned that the province is introducing a regulatory model for personal support workers. Miranda explains just what this milestone decision means for this particular group of front line staff. The province also announced that it will be allocating $86-million towards training 8,000 PSWs through private career colleges and district school boards. Is that enough?