Province taking new steps to increase hospital capacity in Mississauga, Brampton and Ontario
Published April 24, 2021 at 1:43 pm
The Ontario government announced today new steps to combat the rapid rise in hospitalizations in Mississauga, Brampton and the rest of the province.
That includes encouraging low-priority patients in hospitals who are waiting for a long-term care home placement to accept a placement in a home that may not be their preferred choice.
Ontario will also waive co-payments for these patients until they can be transferred to a home of their choice — and patients who accept these placements will maintain priority status on the waitlist for their preferred home.
“The third wave of COVID-19 is putting unprecedented pressure on Ontario’s hospitals, requiring immediate action,” said Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, Minister of Long-Term Care.
Rules regarding admissions and transfers have also been updated regarding long-term care homes:
- For fully immunized residents with a negative laboratory-based test at the time of admission or transfer, no isolation is required.
- For partially immunized or unimmunized residents, a laboratory-based test is required at the time of admission or transfer, and the resident must isolate for a minimum of 10 days (reduced from 14 days) subject to a negative laboratory test taken on Day 8.
The province says it will also exempt fully immunized long-term care home and retirement home employees from restrictions that prohibit them from working in more than one home, or in another heath care setting.
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Ontario Health and Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) will have the authority to redeploy staff to long-term care homes and retirement homes to facilitate and support placements.
Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press
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