Only thing growing under Ford’s watch is health care wait times and hallway medicine

HAMILTON and NICKEL BELT – As Ontario continues to face hospital overcrowding while Ford’s Minister of Health has been awarded a 5-month long summer vacation, NDP Shadow Minister for Mental Health and Addictions, with responsibility for Primary Care, Dr. Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre), and Shadow Minister of Health, France Gélinas (Nickel Belt) released the following statement:

“Ontario’s hospitals are operating beyond capacity because this government has failed to plan for the growing needs of Ontarians,” said Dr. Lennox.

“Ontario needs to increase the number of staffed acute care beds, strengthen home and community care so patients can recover safely outside hospital, and ensure every Ontarian has access to a primary care provider and preventative services. These are practical steps that would reduce pressure on emergency rooms and improve patient outcomes across the province.”

“Under Premier Ford and Sylvia Jones, Ontario’s hospitals have been pushed past the breaking point,” said MPP Gélinas. “ER doctors, nurses, and frontline staff are sounding the alarm because overcrowding and chronic understaffing are putting patient care at risk every single day. Instead of investing in public healthcare capacity, this government has allowed hallway medicine, impossible wait times, and unattached patients to become the norm in Ontario.”