Defend Public Healthcare

The Ontario government has announced that it is creating a 'registry' of personal support workers (PSWs). The Ministry of Health and Long Term Care says "PSWs will have the opportunity to sign up with the registry and provide key information such as: contact information, current employment, educational background and years of experience.  Employers and the public could use the registry to verify this important information, and employers would be better informed to meet patient needs."   The registry, they claim, will be up and running no later than the summer of 2012.   The full role and governance of the registry remains unclear, however.   The Ministry promises that "c onsultations with PSWs, their representatives and other stakeholders will begin in the summer." The government initially considered putting PSWs under the control of a regulatory college, but decided not to follow this path, at least as a first step.  The government's  Health Profession...

The Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors (OANHSS) says the provincial Budget will fund 1,100 new personal support workers (PSWs) in long-term care homes. With 700 homes in the province, that is about 1.5 PSWs per home.   "Residents will see a direct benefit from this investment through enhanced levels of care and services" claims OANHSS.   OANHSS also claims the Budget will provide funding to help the homes deal with the increasingly complex ALC patients they are getting from hospitals.   The 1,100 PSWs  are suppose to  complete a promise in the 2008 Budget for 2,500 more PSWs.   LTC union representatives remain skeptical, having heard promises in the past.  This writer, at least, has not been able to find the specific PSW promise in the 2011 Budget. On a different tack,  for-profit long term care facilities (represented by OLTCA) are meeting with the Ministry of Health and LTC this week to discuss the Budge...