When will government tackle ER bottlenecks?

The Ontario government has failed to live up to its 2003 promise to fix emergency room wait times.

This year, Ontario will spend $40.4 billion on health care, while Ontarians will pay an average of $750 through the Ontario health tax. But is the health care system better? Constituents tell me things like wait times are getting worse while improvements are few and far between. Inaction from the Ontario government is eroding the public’s faith in our health care system.

Ontario’s hospitals are having trouble managing ER wait times and improving the flow of patients. Health care providers are operating without a clear sense of direction.

According to the Ontario Hospital Association, a fifth of all hospital beds in the province are occupied by patients who should be taken care of elsewhere. For example, seniors are forced to remain in hospital while they wait for a long-term care bed. Such situations have created bottlenecks inside and outside the ER.

Back in February, more than 22,000 seniors were waiting for a long-term care bed in Ontario, which is up by 10,000 since 2005.

In 2005, the Ministry of Health established a working group to offer guidance on ambulance off-load times in emergency departments. One year later the provincial government released the group’s findings but only after many ERs had closed. The findings prove that problems facing the health care system are not necessary but can be solved. This is good news.

It was found that crowded emergency rooms are part of a system-wide access problem. It was suggested by the group that the government closely measure lengths of stay in the emergency departments while expanding other levels of care. Sadly, that was two years ago.

However, the Premier continues to say that the issue of wait times in emergency departments is one of his top priorities. Why then hasn’t he acted on the advice from the working group when he knows that patient safety is at risk?

A firm plan and a long-term vision is what are needed to tackle ER wait times that can easily last eight hours. Further, there are roughly 850 patients each day staying overnight in Ontario emergency wards while they wait for a bed.

At the end of May, the government announced $109 million in attempt to reduce wait times in emergency rooms. Some felt this announcement was meant to deflect criticism of the government over the reporting of C. difficile cases in the province’s hospitals.

Further, throwing money at the problem is not always the answer. The current government would be wise to set goals and put in place the proper measures to determine where the money will have the biggest impact.

Health care spending is expected to rise to $42.4 billion next year. Right now the Ontario government spends 46 cents of every program dollar on health.

This government’s health tax has already taken $12.2 billion out of the pockets of hardworking families. It’s time Ontarians know how this government plans to meet the challenges of rising costs, an aging population, overcrowded emergency departments and a shortage of health care workers.

For the health of us all, I hope we don’t have to wait much longer for this government to take action. It’s time public interest is put ahead of politics.