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Source: https://ottawacitizen.com/news/loca...as-ontario-enters-second-wave-commission-told
Critical staff shortages worsen as Ontario enters second wave, commission told
The devastating impact of staff shortages in long-term care homes during the first wave of COVID-19 in Ontario has been widely documented.
Author of the article: Elizabeth Payne
Publishing date:
Oct 21, 2020 • Last Updated 4 hours ago • 4 minute read
Ontario entered the second wave of COVID-19 with 6,000 fewer personal support care workers than needed, the province’s long-term care commission has heard.
Officials from the ministries of health and long-term care acknowledged worsening staff shortages in long-term and community care during recent testimony about Ontario’s efforts to prepare for a second wave.
In addition to personal support workers, 800 more nurses are needed, said Melanie Fraser, associate deputy minister of health.
“We recognize that there is a significant deficiency of personal support workers in the system,” Fraser told the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. “This was the case prior to the pandemic and the pandemic really exacerbated the situation.”
The province is taking steps to fill that gap, Fraser and other officials told the commission, which is headed by Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco of the Superior Court. But the measures announced so far, including a “return of service” program that provides a $5,000 bonus to new graduate PSWs in exchange for a six-month commitment to a long-term care home, will bring in fewer than 2,000 new workers between November and January under a best-case scenario, officials told the commission...
Critical staff shortages worsen as Ontario enters second wave, commission told
The devastating impact of staff shortages in long-term care homes during the first wave of COVID-19 in Ontario has been widely documented.
Author of the article: Elizabeth Payne
Publishing date:
Oct 21, 2020 • Last Updated 4 hours ago • 4 minute read
Ontario entered the second wave of COVID-19 with 6,000 fewer personal support care workers than needed, the province’s long-term care commission has heard.
Officials from the ministries of health and long-term care acknowledged worsening staff shortages in long-term and community care during recent testimony about Ontario’s efforts to prepare for a second wave.
In addition to personal support workers, 800 more nurses are needed, said Melanie Fraser, associate deputy minister of health.
“We recognize that there is a significant deficiency of personal support workers in the system,” Fraser told the Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission. “This was the case prior to the pandemic and the pandemic really exacerbated the situation.”
The province is taking steps to fill that gap, Fraser and other officials told the commission, which is headed by Associate Chief Justice Frank Marrocco of the Superior Court. But the measures announced so far, including a “return of service” program that provides a $5,000 bonus to new graduate PSWs in exchange for a six-month commitment to a long-term care home, will bring in fewer than 2,000 new workers between November and January under a best-case scenario, officials told the commission...