To the editor:
There has been a lot of rhetoric over the past number of weeks with regard to Bill 7-----MORE BEDS, BETTER CARE ACT (2022).
What I find missing is actual data as to its impact especially here in the North Bay area.
There are six nursing homes-----Algonquin (Mattawa), Au Chateau (Sturgeon Falls), Eastholme (Powassan), Nipissing Manor (Corbeil), Cassellholme and Water’s Edge (formerly known as Leisureworld) both in North Bay, in the area.
What are their respective number of beds e.g. 100 beds, etc., and their occupancy levels e.g. 98%, etc.?
How many patients are there in the West Nipissing Hospital, Mattawa Hospital, and North Bay Regional Health Centre respectively waiting to be admitted to one of the Nursing Homes referenced above?
At one time, we were told by officials as to what the backlog was of people waiting to be admitted to nursing homes presently in hospital beds.
How many individuals outside the hospitals are waiting to be admitted to one of these nursing homes? I know of families in the past and present who are the primary caregivers with some respite care to individuals, waiting for a placement in a nursing home.
Over the past five years, how many patients (and/or family acting on the patient’s behalf) within the hospitals referenced above refused to go to a Nursing Home when a space became available? I would like to know how many patients have refused to go to a nursing home.
Paul Heinrich, President of the North Bay Regional Health Centre recently came out in support of this bill; however, he does not provide any information to support his position.
Since Sudbury is within 150 kilometres of North Bay, it would be interesting to know what the data is for the hospitals and nursing homes within the Regional Municipality of Sudbury. If the nursing homes in the Regional Municipality of Sudbury are running at 100% occupancy and there is a backlog of individuals at Health Science North, should the placement of an individual at Health Science North take precedence over someone at the North Bay Regional Health Centre?
Yours truly
Don Coutts
North Bay
