Ontario Taking Action on Key Recommendations from Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System
Province building a safer and stronger long-term care system to end hallway health care
The Voice of Canada News:
BURLINGTON — Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care, was at The Village of Tansley Woods to announce the government and the sector have completed a total of 18 recommendations in response to the key recommendations in the Public Inquiry into the Safety and Security of Residents in the Long-Term Care Homes System, including a directive from Minister Fullerton to long-term care homes on safe medication management.
“Our government is grateful to Justice Gillese, Commissioner of the Public Inquiry, for providing strong recommendations to help us improve our long-term care system,” said Minister Fullerton. “Over the past several months, in collaboration with our sector partners, our government has been working hard on the Public Inquiry recommendations.”
Fulfilling several recommendations on medication safety, Minister Fullerton has issued a directive to the sector regarding glucagon, severe hypoglycemia and unresponsive hypoglycemia.The directive puts in place best practices for safe insulin policies, including clear expectations on training for and reporting of insulin-related medication incidents.
Joined by experts from across various sectors, Minister Fullerton also announced the launch of a staffing study, which will inform a comprehensive staffing strategy to be implemented by the end of 2020. One component of the staffing study will explore determining adequate levels of staff in long-term care, specifically addressing a key recommendation in the Public Inquiry.
“Proper staffing is essential to meeting the needs of our loved ones in long-term care homes. The sector is experiencing a severe shortage of personal support workers and other key roles, and that’s why our government is taking action to help Ontarians fill these fulfilling, in-demand jobs,” said Minister Fullerton.
The study will also look at other staffing issues in long-term care, including identifying the right staffing model and skill mix to support current and future needs and optimizing recruitment and retention of personal support workers and registered staff.
The study will be led by an expert advisory group, who will meet with leaders in the long-term care sector including representatives from major stakeholder groups and care staff professional associations.
QUICK FACTS
The government, with long-term care sector partners, is reviewing the remaining recommendations from the Public Inquiry—40 of these recommendations are already underway. The government will provide a full progress update in July 2020.
The advice from the staffing advisory group will inform a comprehensive staffing strategy to be implemented by the end of 2020.
The Minister’s directive has been shared with all long-term care operators across Ontario and comes into effect on April 15, 2020.
