The Ontario government announced some big changes to healthcare today.
Christine Elliott, Minister of Health and Long Term Care, says a long-term plan to fix and strengthen the public health care system will focus directly on the needs of Ontario’s patients and families. A new central agency will be called "Ontario Health."
It will combine 14 Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) and merge them with six provincial health agencies, including Cancer Care Ontario and eHealth Ontario. You will be able to book appointments online and have access to your own health-care record.
“The people of Ontario deserve a connected health care system that puts their needs first,” said Elliott. “At the same time the people of Ontario deserve peace of mind that this system is sustainable and accessible for all patients and their families, regardless of where you live, how much you make, or the kind of care you require.”
She denies the changes are designed to save money.
However, the opposition is calling the plan "creeping privatization."
"This morning's press conference did not allay our concerns about opening up our public health care system to private, for-profit, motivated corporations," said NDP Leader Andrea Horwath.
Health care workers are mobilizing.
"This dangerous Ford government reboot of our public health system must be stopped before patient care and safety fall victim to the gaps, holes, and pitfalls this massive overhaul will create," said CUPE Ontario President Fred Hahn.
Among the changes:
- Organizing health care providers to work as one coordinated team, focused on patients and specific local needs. Patients would experience easy transitions from one health provider to another (for example, between hospitals and home care providers, with one patient story, one patient record, and one care plan).
- Providing patients, families and caregivers help in navigating the public health care system, 24/7.
- Integrating multiple provincial agencies and specialized provincial programs into a single agency to provide a central point of accountability and oversight for the health care system. This would improve clinical guidance and support for providers and enable better quality care for patients.
- Improving access to secure digital tools, including online health records and virtual care options for patients.
“Our government is taking a comprehensive, pragmatic approach to addressing the public health care system,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli. “By relentlessly focusing on patient experience, and on better-connected care, we will reduce wait times and end hallway health care. Residents in Nipissing can be confident that there will be a sustainable health care system for them when and where they need it.”
Ontario is spending $3.8 billion over 10 years to establish a comprehensive and connected system for mental health and addictions treatment and adding 15,000 new long-term care beds over five years and 30,000 beds over 10 years.
The government intends to introduce legislation that would, if passed, support the establishment of local Ontario Health Teams that connect health care providers and services around patients and families and integrate multiple existing provincial agencies into a single health agency – Ontario Health.
A news release states, "Ontario currently has a large network of provincial and regional agencies, clinical oversight bodies and 1,800 health service provider organizations. This creates confusion for both patients and providers trying to navigate the health care system."
See: Backgrounder: Building a Connected Public Health Care System for the Patient