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The wages of cuts...

The McGuinty government's hospital bed cuts are coming home to roost. This week the Ottawa Citizen is running a series on the sad impact on one woman who was moved from a hospital to a for-profit retirement home. Here's the comment from the Chief Coroner:

"The circumstances surrounding this woman's death should alert health care professionals that, despite pressures to move the frail elderly out of hospitals to other settings ... it is important to remember that these elderly clients are awaiting long-term care home placement precisely because their care needs are so heavy that they are difficult, if not impossible, to provide in a community, private-care setting".

The story lists many shortcomings of care in this sad case. As the government forces more hospital bed cuts (another 16 were announced in Cornwall yesterday), there will be more sad stories. As one LHIN CEO said: “We’re going to make mistakes…” -- Doug

Got a tip? Email dallan@cupe.ca

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