Thread by @OntarioHealthC

The expansion of the Red Cross in Ontario's #LTC homes in crisis is welcome. BUT, heed the words of of Stéphane Parisien CAO of the region, responsible for Prescott Russell Residence,
“….it wasn't the panacea needed. "The Red Cross is not the cavalry...
thread⤵️

"There are quite a
number of limitations to what the Red Cross can do," he said. "They can help us with the
infectious protocols, but they don't provide the human resources to help us feed or
change residents." This is why we are saying if local hospitals cannot 2/7...

...provide the staff needed to help with daily hands-on care-- and we are worried that a number of arrangements with our heroic hospitals (props, truly) include only sporadic and inadequate staffing-- then we need another plan.

3/7...

Last Wednesday we held a press conference decrying the crisis-level staffing shortage at the Villages at St. Clair in Windsor. With the 2 hospitals stretched & in outbreak we called for the military to be asked to help if needed. We did not do so lightly. It is not ideal.
4/7...

Along with @traceyram Unifor 2458 @TarasNatyshak @LGretzky. Our call has since been echoed by @DrVivianS , @DorisGrinspun, @@JerryPDias @SEIUHealthCan & others. @AnthonyDaleOHA warned today that there are not enough hospital staff to do all the roles asked of them.

5/7...

#LTC needs real help now, and it goes far beyond what the Red Cross can do.

In the ever-increasing number of homes with giant outbreaks staffing has collapsed.

But across the board it has declined precipitously.

We need military help. We also need community teams & more. 6/7..

The municipal leaders in charge of the Prescott & Russell Residence asked for help. Their overwhelmed local hospital could not help. The Red Cross couldn't do much.

By Dec 7, 109 residents & 68 staff contracted #COVID19 & 14 died.

See this case study: ontariohealthcoalition.ca/index.php/rele…

@LaurenPelley @CityCynthia @richard680news @l_stone @QPbriefing @HuffPostCanada @MoiraWelsh @picardonhealth