The Ontario government has released the next phase of its “Staying Open Plan” ahead of what they say will likely be an increase in respiratory illnesses in the coming months.
The plan focuses on “health system stability and recovery” and aims to add thousands of health workers and free up hospital beds. Officials say the additions will help ease the burden on the broader health care system, which has been strained in recent months by staff shortages.
“Historically, fall and winter are when cases of respiratory illness increase, putting a strain on emergency departments, hospitals and the broader health care system, including long-term care,” the 18-page document says published on Thursday.
“This year will also include Omicron. To deal with current pressures, make further progress with surgical backlogs and be well prepared for any winter surge, we need to do more.”
LONG-TERM CARE RESIDENTS TRANSFERRED TO ALTERNATIVE TERMS
The Progressive Conservative government will introduce legislation that would allow elderly patients in hospital waiting to be placed in a long-term care home to be moved to an alternative facility, potentially in a different community, until it opens his favorite place.
Officials say this new policy will free up 250 hospital beds in the first six months.
The government said “mandatory guidelines” will be used to ensure patients remain close to their loved ones and there are no additional costs; however, little detail was provided on what these guidelines entail.
Long-term care beds reserved for COVID-19 isolation will also be available later this summer. Officials say this decision was taken on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and will free up 1,000 beds in six months.
They also hope to expand a program that allows paramedics to transport patients to a location other than an emergency room or treat them at the scene. The government says a pilot program showed 94% of patients avoided emergency room visits in the days following treatment.
The plan specifies that these policies will “free up” or “make available” hospital beds rather than creating new ones.
ADD MORE HEALTH WORKERS
PCs pledge to add up to 6,000 more health workers to Ontario’s system.
To do this, the government will temporarily cover exam, application and tuition costs for internationally trained and retired nurses, which they say will reduce financial barriers and save workers about $1,500.
It’s unclear how much this will cost taxpayers.
The “Staying Open Plan” was unveiled at the end of March as a strategy to “build a stronger, more resilient and better prepared healthcare system to respond to the crisis”.
It included a permanent pay raise for personal support workers, the creation of two new medical schools, a financial investment in nursing programs, bolstering domestic production of personal protective equipment, and the creation of 3,000 new hospital beds over the next decade.
This is breaking news. More to come.