Ontario’s Official Opposition held a press conference at Queen’s Park on Thursday, alleging that provincial government policies are exacerbating a crisis in hospitals, leading to dangerous patient overcrowding and mounting institutional debt.
New Democrat MPPs France Gélinas and Dr. Robin Lennox, the party’s shadow ministers for health and primary care, warned that chronic underfunding is forcing patients into hallways and other unconventional spaces for care.
“People in this province are being forced to wait for care in places that were never meant to be treatment spaces,” said Dr. Lennox, in a news release.
“That is what happens when a government knowingly underfunds hospitals year after year.”
— Hamilton Centre MPP Dr. Robin Lennox
The press conference addressed the government’s plan to retire several key performance indicators from Ontario Health’s annual public reports, including the metric tracking patients treated in unconventional spaces.
“The government has, to be honest, keep track of those. We are talking, like, close to 2,000 Ontarians that are sick enough to be admitted into a hospital that will end up in a hallway, in a TV room, in a bathroom, in anywhere but, hospital room,” said Nickel Belt MPP Gélinas.
In a written statement to CTV News, a spokesperson for the Minister of Health defended the change.
“The metrics you reference are outdated Key Performance Indicators, most of which were introduced in response to COVID-19, being retired from Ontario Health’s (OH) annual reports – in place of these indicators, Ontario Health has introduced 21 newer, more targeted indicators that will continue to produce the same, and in fact more granular, information to the Ministry.”
— Press Secretary Ema Popovic, Ontario Ministry of Health
Hospital administrators confirm the ongoing issue remains severe.
“We have, probably, about 70, patients on a day-to-day basis, that are what we would classify in unconventional bed space,” said David McNeil, President and CEO of Health Sciences North.
Gélinas argued the funding model compounds the problem, as the government does not provide funding for patients in these unconventional beds or the staff needed to care for them. She said this has left 50 per cent of Ontario hospitals facing deficit budgets.
“They have to balance their budget, even this. That means cutting programs, laying off staff, when you have a full house,” Gélinas said.
She claimed hospitals are seeking a four per cent budget increase but are being offered only 0.7 per cent by the government.
Health-care workers and a former hospital CEO provided stark accounts of the consequences.
“My sickest ER patients are often stuck in the ER for 2-3 days… My elderly patients are treated in hallways… As a result of ER overcrowding, my patients have suffered premature death,” said Toronto-based emergency physician Dr. Raghu Venugopal.
David Bird, a former hospital CEO, recounted a personal experience as a patient.
“I spent 28 hours on a bed with a sign above it: ‘Cardiac Hallway 5’… During that time I did not sleep and I know I was not the only one,” he said.
The opposition and health-care workers called for immediate government action and increased investment, contrasting the health-care budget with other government spending.
“All of this could be acted upon right here, right now,” said Gélinas.
“We give the example $2.2 billion for a spa at Ontario Place that nobody wants with that $2.2 billion instantly (this) would the crisis would go away.”
“Hospital cuts – especially cutting front-line health-care professionals – are catastrophic for patients,” said Erin Ariss, Provincial President of the Ontario Nurses’ Association.
“The crisis in our health-care system is the direct result of intentional underfunding by the Ford government.”
Hospital administrators emphasize the need for a system-wide solution.
“The population is aging… The demands for health care are going to continue to increase,” said McNeil.
“But there’s needs to be other aspects of the health care system that are are strengthened. Primary care is an important part… as well as we need other venues like home and community care and long-term care to be all part of the solution.”
