Medical supply shortages last fall for palliative and home care patients were triggered by one vendor, but a lack of planning and oversight at a government agency contributed, Ontario's patient ombudsman concluded in a report Wednesday.
Affected patients included a person with three forms of Stage 4 cancer whose delivery of supplies to ease their end-of-life pain and nausea was delayed, not arriving until 10 minutes before they died, the ombudsman said.
For patient ombudsman Craig Thompson's investigation into the Ontario Health atHome supply issues, his team spoke to affected patients and caregivers who filed complaints, nurses and staff at the government agency.