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New long-term care beds needed, Pettapiece says during debate
February 28, 2018
(Queen’s Park) – Yesterday, Perth-Wellington MPP Randy Pettapiece took part in a debate at Queen’s Park regarding the need for more long-term beds in our province. PC Interim Leader Vic Fedeli launched the debate with a motion calling on the government to build 15,000 new long-term care beds in five years and 30,000 over 10 years.
In his remarks, Pettapiece spoke about growing wait lists and years of broken promises for new beds. It’s proof, he said, that the government has mismanaged this important issue.
“It is absolutely vital that the government plan ahead and ensure we have enough capacity to meet demand over the next 10 years,” said the MPP in his speech. “They should have done that years ago, but they didn’t. They’ve had 15 years to get it right.”
Pettapiece also expressed skepticism about the Liberals’ recent promise to create 5,000 new beds by 2022. The Liberals made a similar pre-election pledge in 2007 to redevelop 35,000 beds, but only achieved about one-third of that number.
“People aren’t stupid! To anyone following long-term care in Ontario, it’s obvious the process is political,” he added.
In addition, the MPP spoke about his constituents’ response to news that Hillside Manor, a nursing home near Sebringville, could close. Last spring, the ministry was reviewing a proposal to close Hillside and transfer up to 50 beds to London. It was only following sustained pressure from the community that the Minister of Health announced that Hillside and the 50 beds would stay in Perth-Wellington.
“The outcome was a beautiful example of a community coming together over an important cause, and being heard,” Pettapiece observed. “But sadly, the bed shortage is so much bigger than just one home, in one riding.”
Finally, Pettapiece called on the government to fix its outdated metrics for calculating bed ratios and improve the community consultation process. He also stressed his strong support for all local long-term care homes that are applying for additional beds.
