FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 11, 2019
QUEEN’S PARK –MPP Toby Barrett recently asked the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care how she will take the province’s health care system off life support.
During Question Period in the Ontario Legislature Wednesday, Barrett relayed his concerns about hallway health care to Minister Christine Elliott.
“The health care system is facing capacity pressures, but it does not have the right mix of services, beds or digital tools to be ready for a growing and rapidly aging population, with increasingly complex health care needs,” Elliott said. “That is why we are building a public health care system centred around the patient and redirecting money to front-line services where it belongs, to improve the patient experience and to provide better and more connected care.”
Barrett then asked how the proposed legislation The People’s Health Care Act would reduce wait times and ultimately end hallway health care.
“It’s no secret, the former Liberal government left us with a health care system on life support,” Barrett said. “I, along with my colleagues in this Legislature, have been hearing dozens and dozens of unfortunate stories from people on the state of our health care system in the province. My constituents and, as you’ve indicated, minister, so many people in Ontario would certainly benefit from a patient-centred health care system.”
Elliott answered there will be a focus on the patient experience and on better connected care.
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For more information, contact MPP Toby Barrett at 519-428-0446 or toby.barrett@pc.ola.org
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ONTARIO LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
Draft Hansard
April 11, 2019
HEALTH CARE REFORM
Mr. Toby Barrett: My question is for the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care. Speaker, our government is committed to delivering on our promise to end hallway health care. I’ve heard time and time again from my constituents across Haldimand–Norfolk that building a public health care system centred around patients is very important for them. That’s why I’m quite heartened our government has introduced The People’s Health Care Act so that patients and families will have access to fast, better and more connected services.
Would the minister please inform the members of this Legislature why our proposed changes …
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(Mr. Barrett)
… and more connected services.
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Would the minister please inform the members of this Legislature why our proposed changes are so desperately needed for our health care system?
Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you very much to the member from Haldimand–Norfolk for the great question. I can tell you that I have heard from thousands of Ontarians on this issue, including patients, families and caregivers, and, from these countless hours of conversation, I’ve heard the same refrain: Our health care system is broken.
The health care system is facing capacity pressures, but it does not have the right mix of services, beds or digital tools to be ready for a growing and rapidly aging population, with increasingly complex health care needs. That is why we are building a public health care system centred around the patient and redirecting money to front-line services where it belongs, to improve the patient experience and to provide better and more connected care.
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Supplementary.
Mr. Toby Barrett: I thank the minister for that response. As the minister has just indicated, there’s no doubt our health care system needs immediate attention.
It’s no secret, the former Liberal government left us with a health care system on life support. I, along with my colleagues in this Legislature, have been hearing dozens and dozens of unfortunate stories from people on the state of our health care system in the province. My constituents and, as you’ve indicated, minister, so many people in Ontario would certainly benefit from a patient-centred health care system.
My question: Could the minister please inform this House how The People’s Health Care Act, if passed, will address the pressures facing our health care system? And, secondly, how will this act improve patient care?
Hon. Christine Elliott: Thank you again to the member.
Our government is making the necessary changes to build a modern, sustainable system that will improve access to care and emphasize a patient-centred approach.
If we expect real improvements that patients will experience first-hand, we must better coordinate the public health care system so it is organized around people’s needs and outcomes. This will enable local teams of health care providers to know and understand each patient’s needs, and provide the appropriate, high-quality, connected care that Ontarians deserve and expect.
By relentlessly focusing on the patient experience and on better connected care, we will reduce wait times and end hallway medicine.