Today, the Ontario Government committed to enhancing the minimum standard direct care for LTC residents. Below is a statement from WeRPN CEO Dianne Martin:
WeRPN applauds the government’s commitment to establish a 4 hour per day minimum standard of care for Ontario long-term care residents. Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) have long called attention to the cracks in the foundation of our long-term care system. For years, Ontario’s LTC system has been rife with problems stemming from chronic under-funding, staffing shortages and overwhelming workloads for the staff in homes. The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic put further strain on this fragile system, leading to disastrous consequences.
We know the demands on our long-term care system will only continue to grow as our population ages. That is why WeRPN has been urging the government to enhance the minimum standard of care for long-term care to ensure residents can access the quality of care they need and deserve. We are pleased to see the government respond to our call and that of many other health partners. We know that we have a challenging road ahead. Achieving this goal will not be easy. It will require collaboration with sector partners and significant investment to grow the number of qualified health professionals available to deliver care. As the voice of Ontario RPNs, we look forward to working closely with the government to make this goal a reality and ensure that Ontario LTC residents receive the best care possible.