News
Open Letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
April 19, 2018
In the remaining weeks before the upcoming provincial election campaign, long-term care remains one of my highest priorities.
I am calling on the government to follow through on its promise to deliver new long-term care beds — and, most importantly, to make sure that we in Perth-Wellington are not overlooked. I am aware of several homes that have applied for new beds. I have written to support them.
This week, I also sent an open letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, again calling on her to approve all the applications from our riding. That letter is included below for your information; you can also download a PDF copy here:
Thanks for your interest in this matter affecting our area.
—
Queen’s Park
Toronto, Ontario
April 17, 2018
Hon. Helena Jaczek, MPP
Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
10th Floor, Hepburn Block
80 Grosvenor Street
Toronto, Ontario M7A 2C4
Dear Minister:
Open Letter to the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care
After years of neglect, we need you to commit to—and fund—new long-term care beds for Perth-Wellington. My constituents have experienced years of growing waiting lists at many homes throughout our area. They understand that we are not “over-bedded,” as your government has misleadingly suggested.
Under your government’s watch, Ontario has a crisis in long-term care; we in Perth-Wellington have experienced it, too. This crisis comes despite the very best efforts of long-term care homes in our area. Many new admissions come with increasingly complex needs. Homes are also coping with staff shortages—especially as it concerns personal support workers (PSWs)—with no effective plan from the province to address them. Costs, which your government has exacerbated, keep rising. At the same time, funding has been flat-lined.
We acknowledge that your government promised, in the run-up to an election, to increase the number of long-term care beds in Ontario by 5,000 between now and 2022, and by 30,000 before 2027. These beds are needed. In light of your government’s past performance in this area, however, people are understandably skeptical.
I was very pleased to learn that a number of long-term care homes, in both Perth and Wellington counties, responded to your government’s request for proposals to accept new beds. For all of the homes that have contacted me and requested my support, I have written directly to you to endorse their applications. I reiterate that support today.
It was beyond disappointing, however, to read recent news reports stating that Perth County is “not a priority area” for your government when it comes to new beds. I also understand that your government told long-term care administrators in Perth County that because they are in the county, they should not even bother applying. If true, this would be a massive mistake.
As we have said many times: the “bed ratio”—that is, the number of beds per 1,000 people at least 75 years of age—is the wrong metric to evaluate the unique needs of various areas. Bed ratios do not account for demographic shifts to rural and small-town Ontario. They do not account for the growing population under age 75, people who also need long-term care because of chronic illness, disability and so on. They do not account for added costs to smaller local hospitals and municipal ambulance services, which would have to transport patients over greater distances. Finally, bed ratios do not account for long travel distances, sometimes in dangerous winter conditions, that families would have to drive to visit loved ones. It is amazing to me that your government has yet to acknowledge these basic facts.
Again, I want to repeat my unequivocal support for every long-term care home throughout Perth-Wellington that has applied for new beds. Our administrators have made the case that they need them, and our area would clearly benefit from them.
I would appreciate your response to this matter, and all of the issues I have raised. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Randy Pettapiece, MPP
Perth-Wellington
c: Kelly Gillis, Interim Co-CEO, South West LHIN
Donna Ladouceur, Interim Co-CEO, South West LHIN
Bruce Lauckner, CEO, Waterloo Wellington LHIN
