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LTC Protest in Woodstock

Photo's courtesy of John Joosse

The Oxford Health Coalition was protesting in front of MPP Ernie Hardeman's office in Downtown Woodstock on Monday.

WOODSTOCK - The Oxford Health Coalition was protesting in front of local MPP Ernie Hardeman's office in Woodstock on Monday. 

Chair of the Oxford Health Coalition Bryan Smith says they hope Hardeman listened and will take their message to Queens Park. 

"It's time that we really dealt with the problem in long term care that we have in this province." 

Smith says the pandemic has shined a light on how terrible the conditions are at Long Term Care homes in Ontario, specifically for profit homes but he notes the writing was on the wall before that.

"In 2019, before the pandemic, the Ontario Health Coalition had put out a paper called "Situation Critical" that said that the situation in long term care was already critical, that the care standards were too low, insufficient inspections and under staffed." 

The Ontario Health Coalition has issued the following demands:

- Immediate action to fast-track increases in care levels and staffing to meet residents’ care needs;

- Enforcement of care standards through reinstatement of annual surprise inspections, and real accountability through fines, loss of license for repeated non-compliance. Repeal the Act shielding LTC operators from lawsuits for negligence;

- End for-profit LTC, and;

- Ensure the human rights of LTC residents are upheld, including an end to unlawful detention, isolation and ensure full access to caregivers and families.

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