Health Archives - QP Briefing

Ontario sidelined public health expertise in its cumbersome, slow response to COVID-19: auditor general

The auditor general was sharply critical of the province's Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams. ...

Ontario COVID-19 cases still growing, but slowing, public health officials say

Long-term care deaths are increasing sharply, officials said. ...

‘Down a peg’: Your daily Ontario COVID-19 roundup

Doug Ford said he has "100 per cent confidence" in Sam Oosterhoff. ...

Unions argue female long-term care workers should have wages pegged to men

Lawyers made their case to Ontario's highest court in a years-long pay equity dispute. ...

Ford promises strategy for testing line-ups, doesn’t commit to pharmacy tests ‘100 per cent’

The premier said long line-ups for COVID-19 tests are "ridiculous." ...

Ford government fighting to keep evictions going as concerns raised about Landlord and Tenant Board

One housing advocate says the LTB is plagued with technical problems. ...

No mandatory COVID-19 testing in Ontario’s school reopening plan

If a student or staff member becomes ill at school they'll be separated and asked to return home. ...

Health-care providers still denying uninsured Ontarians despite directive, advocates say

The province has assured health-care providers it will cover treatment costs, but some are still turning away patients. ...

‘The best chance possible to face what’s ahead’: A close look at Ontario’s new contact tracing technology

Three women leading the implementation of a new COVID-19 IT system spoke with QP Briefing this week. ...

It’s ‘a system problem’: Why an Ontario ICU doctor reports COVID-19 cases via 311

Inefficient tech and data management is getting in the way of an effective pandemic response, experts say. ...

Ontario allowing people without symptoms to be tested for COVID-19: premier

Anyone who feels they need to be tested can now be tested, Doug Ford announced. ...

Ford government gives itself power to appoint new management of long-term care homes

The government always had the power to order homes to designate new management. Now it can appoint that management directly. ...

Ontario must turn praise for PSWs into action after the pandemic, advocates say

Making personal support work a regulated health care profession is part of giving PSWs the recognition they deserve, advocates say. ...

Barred from visits, family caregivers say access to loved ones is critical

Experts and family members say the care they provide is necessary to uphold patients' rights. ...

Community spread of COVID-19 has peaked in Ontario, officials say

Premier Doug Ford implored Ontarians to stick with physical distancing measures for "a few more weeks" to avoid another surge in cases. ...

Plan coming tomorrow to fight ‘wildfire’ of COVID-19 in Ontario long-term care homes: Ford

Ontario will bar employees from working at more than one long-term care home to prevent spreading the virus, the premier said. ...

COVID-19 watch: Budget delayed, worker protections on the way, ministers announce

The Ford government will temporarily reverse changes it made in 2018 to the Employment Standards Act. ...

COVID-19 Watch: Premier pledges $100 million to fight coronavirus as WHO declares it a pandemic

Jurisdictions around the world escalated their responses as Ontario focuses on its containment strategy. ...

Province establishes COVID-19 command table as number of Ontario cases increases to 18

The enhanced response structure allows the province to make informed decisions quickly. ...

Ontario preparing plan for ‘local spread’ of COVID-19 as new case is reported

So far, the novel Coronavirus isn't being spread from person-to-person in Ontario. ...

Elliott announces home-care transformation, rebranding and phase out of LHINs

The transition to a new model for home care is expected to take years. ...

Chief medical officer asks Ontarians not to be racist amid coronavirus scare

"I think that people need to understand that this is an international concern, this isn't just related to any one group of people," Christine Elliott added. ...

Ford government cancels health-care professional development fund

The Allied Health Professional Development Fund provides yearly grants of up to $1,500 for professional development courses. ...

New patient ombudsman will face strong emotions in ‘challenging’ environment, stakeholders say

The province is hunting for the first patient ombudsperson since Health Minister Christine Elliott left the role two years ago. ...

AG report 2019: Opioid deaths rising, patient safety at risk in hospitals and long-term care homes

Overdose deaths, opioid-related ER visits and wait times for treatment programs are all on the rise despite increased government spending, Lysyk found. ...

Bill 138 could lead to more health privatization, OCHU says

Health Minister Christine Elliott's office called the OCHU's comments "misinformation," saying the changes will not lead to increased privatization. ...

Allowing employers to require sick notes and scrapping paid sick days leads to more sick people, medical professionals and studies say

Health workers say more people will go to work sick instead of going through the hassle of getting a sick note — potentially infecting their coworkers. ...

Province invests in virtual medical visits to lighten load of overcrowded hospitals

The announcement follows the layoff of nine executives as part of the consolidation of Local Health Integration Networks into Ontario Health. ...

Head of OMA concerned about ‘fair process’ as government cracks down on doctor OHIP billing

OMA President Dr. Sohail Gandhi said he supports transparency in doctors' billing, but that the government's plan is "extreme." ...

Ontario Nurses’ Association calls on federal leaders to implement national anti-violence strategy

The message is part of the ONA's "Nurses Vote" election campaign, which also calls for universal pharmacare and national standards for long-term care. ...

Stakeholders looking for more patient engagement, community services from province’s new mental health strategy

The government's new mental health and addictions strategy will hopefully release sometime this fall, Michael Tibollo said. ...

Ministry of Health vows to begin hiring permanent patient health-care advisory council soon

Former PFAC member David Fasano said the government hasn't adequately planned for succession, ignoring a plan from its initial members. ...

Parents say children ‘coughing up blood’ due to vaping: Christine Elliott

Elliott said she is treating vaping a "priority matter" and that she is "not going to sit around and look at statistics for months and months on end.” ...

Ministry of Health to begin search for patient ombudsman 19 months after current health minister left the position

The office's executive director, Craig Thompson, told QP Briefing he had no idea the government would be starting the search soon. ...

Only 15 per cent of Ontario hospitals in ‘good’ condition, Christine Elliott says

The rating is based on the province's Facility Condition Assessment Program. About 65 per cent of Ontario hospitals are in "poor" or "replace" condition. ...

‘Groundhog Day’: More than 100 Toronto doctors sign letter urging province to reverse new public health cuts

Board of Health Chair Joe Cressy said the cuts will cost Toronto $14 million per year, and $4.3 million in the first year despite mitigation measures. ...

AMO 2019: Municipalities ‘very receptive’ to greater naloxone access, presenters say

Asked whether he got any pushback to naloxone from municipalities, Adapt Pharma general manager David Renwick said there was “absolutely none” ...

New report details effects of climate change on children’s health as environment remains top of mind for voters

The campaign asks Ontarians to take a pledge to stay informed about climate change, share and support action against it. ...

NDP urges Ontario not to cut wage boost programs for some caregivers

Horwath called for another phase of the public inquiry into long-term care in Ontario spurred by health-care serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer. ...

Public inquiry into killer nurse Wettlaufer says government must boost long-term care funding to prevent more murders

Report author Justice Eileen Gillese said the killings would not have been discovered had Elizabeth Wettlaufer not confessed. ...

NDP proposes opt-out organ donation system to increase donor rates

Researchers have found that the "default view" of a given country has a strong impact on number of people who sign up to be organ donors. ...

Elliott promises ad blitz to promote vaccinations, combat myths ahead of ‘difficult’ flu season

Anti-vaccination misinformation "still is a problem," Health Minister Christine Elliott said. The province and Toronto Public Health say they'll fight back. ...

‘It may take a little bit longer’: Elliott walks back Ford promise to end hallway health-care in a year

Elliott said she and Ford have spoken about his comments. She did not answer when asked twice whether he told her in advance about the promise. ...

Ford promises to end hallway health-care in a year, though critics say his government will cause it to ‘worsen over time’

A spokesperson for Health Minister Christine Elliott did not say whether the one-year promise was previously discussed with the minister. ...

‘Funding must be restored’: Former health ministers from all three major parties demand Elliott reverse public health cuts

"If the government wants to end hallway medicine, as you have pledged, one of the best ways to do that is to actually invest more, not less, in public health," their open letter reads. ...

Category: Health