Stiles calls for urgent supplies to home care patients amidst critical shortage

QUEEN’S PARK – Marit Stiles, Leader of the Ontario NDP, called out Ford for a month of ‘utter chaos’ as families and health care providers scramble to find critical health care supplies like pain killers and sedatives for vulnerable patients receiving care at home.

“Home care patients, their families, care givers, and health care workers who support them are in a state of panic”, said Stiles. “Patients are being sent to emergency rooms because their supplies have run out, people in palliative care are going without sedatives, and others are turning to Amazon because the government has failed them.”

The sudden change of suppliers came with no notice in late September. One month later, health care providers are scrambling to access basic supplies or are being delivered substandard supplies.

“Did the Premier try to cut corners,” asked Stiles. “We need to know exactly what was behind this decision, and how much longer vulnerable patients will have to wait for medical supplies. This is extremely serious.”

Ontario home care is in ‘disarray’ after the province switched suppliers without informing health care providers. This has left health care professionals scrambling for supplies, and vulnerable patients rushing to overcrowded hospitals for emergency care.