The MPP for Timiskaming-Cochrane says it’s not just the shortage of nursing beds that’s created longer hospital wait times.
Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says the lack of long-term care beds has seen more people end up in hospitals and that’s eaten into the wait times for patients waiting for various procedures.
However, while John Vanthof acknowledges the shortage of nursing beds is one reason, he says other factors include the simple fact that the population is ageing which creates more demands on the health care system.
Additionally, mental health patients are ending up in hospitals because of a lack of programs and this increases wait times.
“This is not good for them because the medical system is not equipped to treat them and there aren’t a lot of places where they can get treatment,” Vanthof said.
Vanthof says having the right mental health programs in place will reduce the number of people in this group ending up in a hospital setting and that’s one way to start reducing wait times.
The New Democrat also says the Tories didn’t help the situation any by cutting autistic testing for children.
“So because kids aren’t going to get tested anymore, those families, because of the extra stress, could end up in the health care system and that’s not where they should be,” Vanthof said.
Vanthof is willing to cut the Tories a break in that they’ve only been in power for six months and he says that’s not enough time for any government to turn matters around.
But he takes exception to Fedeli’s solution that 15,000 long-term care beds announced by the Tories will start to alleviate the wait times.
Vanthof says the Tories have simply re-announced the former Liberal government’s plan to create 15,000 nursing beds.
“It’s very easy for politicians from all political stripes to announce something,” Vanthof said.
“But the announcement of the beds and their actual construction are two different things.”
And Vanthof adds he’s still waiting for construction of the nursing beds to begin.