Zero tolerance for abuse and neglect? Hardly.
Health Minister Deb Matthews talks about zero tolerance of neglect and abuse in Ontario’s nursing homes. Her actions would suggest the opposite. Yesterday Matthews said that inspection of long-term care…
opseudiablogue
When the shift hits the fan
Dr. Danielle Martin has practically catalogued the various attacks on Canada’s Medicare system over the last two decades. The Chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare says that while the arguments…
Docs take McGuinty to court – case likely to decide whether government can unilaterally impose fee schedules and wage freezes
Ontario’s doctors are fighting back after the government unilaterally cut $340 million in fees last month. The Ontario Medical Association is applying to the Ontario Supreme Court of Justice for…
Frail and elderly asked to pay more in Ontario
Frail and elderly residents in Ontario’s nursing homes may be paying in more ways than one for the province’s budget shortfall. While Health Minister Deb Matthews is holding the line…
Vulnerable seniors: Nursing homes could wait five years for a full inspection
It could take more than five years before all of Ontario’s nursing homes receive a full inspection by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Further, the complaints hotline…
Briefs: Budget bill paving the way for privatization? / Chaos in the absence of patient transfer regulation
There has been much press coverage of what the Federal government has quietly inserted into its omnibus budget bill, including considerable environmental deregulation. Hiding sweeping legislative changes inside these large…
Bruyere cuts 28 jobs – tip of the iceberg?
Bruyere Continuing care is the latest hospital to announce cuts to balance its budget. The Ottawa hospital is cutting 28 jobs as part of its efforts to eliminate a $3.1…
David Orazietti takes an unwarranted shot at Coalition’s Natalie Mehra
David Orazietti does protest too much. The northern Ontario MPP took a shot May 30th at Natalie Mehra, Director of the Ontario Health Coalition, in what his press release calls…
Coalition forums wrap up this week in Sudbury and Windsor
CAW economist Jim Stanford and Algoma University professor Dr. Gayle Broad speak at the last two Ontario Health Coalition forums this week. Broad speaks tonight in Sudbury as part of…
The Tim Horton’s debate has come to Ontario hospitals
In Windsor unionized Tim Horton’s workers are being trashed for making a living wage at the Windsor Regional Hospital. The hospital owns three Tim Horton’s franchises within its walls. The…
ORNGE wasn’t the first costly warning McGuinty ignored
“Someone at a very high level was manipulating the Mazza scheme through the cabinet approvals process against the advice and warnings of senior civil servants.” – Tory MPP Frank Klee,…
Ontario Health Coalition forums head north this week
The Ontario Health Coalition heads north this week, hosting community forums in Matheson (Monday), Sault Ste. Marie (Wednesday), Thunder Bay (Thursday) and Kenora (Saturday). The forums discuss the impact of…
Stories we couldn’t let pass by this week
CCACs hire 144 direct care nurses This month the government announced 900 new nursing positions to come from their 2007 commitment to 9,000 new nurses for the health system. Among…
Unemployed Docs: You don’t want fries with that
Much has been made of potential doctor shortages resulting from the no-holds barred death match between the Ontario Medical Association and Health Minister Deb Matthews. It is notable that last…
Hospital Food: Will evidence and accountability be the end of rethermalized food?
The food served in hospital may be directly linked to chances of survival for critically ill patients according to Dr. Daren Heyland, a staff physician at Kingston General Hospital. Heyland…
Thunder Bay lags behind other hospitals in fulfilling freedom of information request
Evidently some hospitals have kinks to work out in their processing of Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. In mid-February we sent out requests – along with an initial $5 fee…
Former Thunder Bay CBS clinic staff thanks donors
The rain didn’t dampen last week’s gathering of former donors and staff from the Thunder Bay Plasma Donor clinic. Canadian Blood Services closed the clinic April 12 after two weeks’…
A reminder of what we’re fighting for
OPSEU represents about 36,000 health care professionals and support staff who work in settings ranging from community mental health to large urban hospitals. When it comes to this BLOG, we…
Fun with numbers – CIHI under fire for hospital rankings
John Wright folded his arms looking more than a little apprehensive. The CEO of the Canadian Institute for Health Information was about to address a room full of hospital officials,…
Coalition forums continue this week in Kingston, Cornwall and Ottawa
Dennis Howlett, coordinator of Canadians for Tax Fairness, will be at all three public health care forums this week in Eastern Ontario. The forums are hosted by the Ontario Health…