Price based funding erodes community control of Ontario hospital services. The penny drops in Cornwall.

Complaints are already emerging about government control of the new Emergency Room wait times funding. Here's the conclusion of today's Cornwall Standard Freeholder editorial:

The ministry, at least in Cornwall's case, is putting the cart before the horse with the $800,000 incentive. The money should be used to open up more long-term care beds. This would move more people out of acute care beds and go a long way in reducing unacceptable wait times. (The full editorial is here.)

This isn't just in Cornwall's case. Queen's Park in Toronto has all the control and so local hospitals (and local communities) cannot fashion local solutions that actually meet local needs.

dallan@cupe.ca

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