TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2018  – Patients Canada recently surveyed patients and caregivers across Ontario in order to voice their health care concerns and priorities for the upcoming Ontario provincial election set for June 7, 2018.

Patients in Ontario were clearly favourable to having more choice and flexibility when it comes to their home care services and trust existing community care providers to deliver those services.

Two-thirds of patients and caregivers surveyed stated that they trust existing community care services that employ nurses, Personal Support Workers (PSWs), and other home care providers. They oppose a new proposed Ontario government agency that will be administered by civil servants and that will employ PSWs.

“Patients Canada believes that there should be less bureaucracy and more choice when it comes to selecting home care service providers. We believe this agency was created without the appropriate consultation to ensure that it would benefit Ontario patients and their families,” said Michael Decter, Chair of Patients Canada.

Patients Canada supports the Home First Alliance for Patients (HFAP) application for judicial review into the decision by the Wynne Government to establish a government-run personal support worker agency in Ontario.

Other key findings of the Patients Canada Survey Include:

  • Close to 90% of respondents stated that health care dollars are currently not being spent wisely by the government of Ontario
  • 86% of respondents stated that there is currently too much administration and bureaucracy in Ontario’s health care system
  • 80% of respondents stated that there is excessive waste and mismanagement in Ontario’s health care system
  • 60% of respondents listed a more responsive health system to the needs, preferences and choices of patients and their families as a priority for the minister of health
  • 55% of respondents stated wait times to get speciality services as their biggest health care challenges facing them
  • Over 55% of respondents listed mental health as the top priority for government following the election

SOURCE Patients Canada

For further information: Michael Decter, Board Chair, Patients Canada, (416)-624-8133, Decter@ldic.ca