‘PSW SHORTAGE IS A CRISIS’: ONTARIO HEALTH COALITION
Posted: February 5, 2020
(February 5, 2020)
By: Celine Zadorsky, iHeart Radio
The Ontario Health Coalition says a recent report by its team is showing a large shortage of Personal Support Workers in long term care homes.
Long term care homes have reported that they are working with shortages of one to two PSW’s on almost all shifts. This means some homes can be short five to 10 PSW’s in every 24-hour period.
The health coalition says some homes its heard from are short up to 20-50 PSW’s.
“Residents were not receiving baths, oral care and proper medication dispensing,” says Peter Bergmanis from the Ontario Health Coalition. “Care is rushed and risk for errors increase, the creates a high injury rate and high accident rates.”
The Ontario Health Coalition says it’s calling on the provincial government to properly fund patient care and to create a manageable patient to PSW ratio.
CTV News has reached out to the Minster of Long Term Care and will update the story once we speak to Minister Fullerton.
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