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<\/p>\n(March 23, 2021)<\/p>\n
By: DurhamRadioNews.com<\/p>\n
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A group is calling for a formal inquiry into alleged age discrimination in Ontario hospitals and long-term care settings.<\/em><\/p>\n The Advocacy Centre for Elderly (ACE), Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) are jointly asking the\u00a0Ontario Human Rights Commission to investigate.<\/p>\n The groups accuse the province of \u201csystemic discrimination based on age against the elderly,\u201d when it comes to the provisioning of health and long-term care.<\/p>\n The group says Ontario routinely falls back on discriminatory policies due to a lack of hospital capacity.<\/p>\n During the pandemic, the group says thousands of elderly patients have been transferred out of hospital \u201coften without due regard to their right consent and care needs.\u201d<\/p>\n Long-term care residents have been subject to \u201chorrifically inadequate care,\u201d according to the group. They say many long-term care home residents were not taken to hospital for treatment, even while they were acutely ill.<\/p>\n As of Tuesday, the province says there have been 3,753 long-term care resident deaths due to COVID-19.<\/p>\n The wait list for Ontario long-term care home is 38,000 names long.<\/p>\n As the pandemic continues, the group says urgent action is needed.<\/p>\n In the Central East LHIN, which includes Durham, there are 12,490 people waiting for a long-term care bed. The current wait time is 4,251 days, or 11.5 years.<\/p>\n