Critical staffing shortages in Ontario's long-term care homes should be urgently addressed as the second wave of the pandemic intensifies, an independent commission said in interim recommendations released Friday.
In a letter to the government, the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission said the province must spend more money, on a permanent basis, so the homes can hire more personal support workers and nurses.
"The staffing challenges have been well documented with numerous reports on the subject. COVID-19 exposed these challenges in stark terms," the commissioners wrote.
The commission is investigating how the novel coronavirus spread in the long-term care system and will submit its final report on April 30, 2021.
It's being led by the Superior Court's associate chief justice Frank Marrocco, along with long-time public servant Angela Coke and Jack Kitts, a medical doctor and former president of the Ottawa Hospital.
The commissioners said the government should immediately mandate and formalize relationships between the homes, hospitals and public health units, as well as strengthen their infection prevention and control protocols.
"We heard that it was recommended, but the commission feels that it should be mandated, that these relationships should be solidified," explained John Callaghan, co-counsel of the commission.
He added in an interview with 1310 NEWS that they released their preliminary recommendations early, to draw attention to a sector that needs help.
"Deal with the here and now, not just to wait until the end to tell everybody what happened, but hopefully to provide some needed recommendations in the middle of the pandemic," said Callaghan.
He's hoping the Ministry of Long-Term Care acts now, as these recommendations aren't new.
"We study things (in Ontario) , and there's a tipping point, and almost 2,000 people died in long-term care," said Callaghan, adding if that's not a tipping point, "I'm not sure what would be"
With files from The Canadian Press
