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Comment – Limited medicare keeps getting smaller and smaller


For someone who was a frequent patient with a rehab hospital over a twenty year period, changes occurred, some good but most bad that showed a failing system shifting downward. Last winter personnel of a ward of this rehab hospital were called into a meeting, and came out looking grim. Patients fired faster than before. Rehab programs were abbreviated and people were being sent home or to long-term care.

When interviewing Ontario Provincial Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown Estonian Life asked him what the difference in percentage was between front of the line, (nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists etc.) and behind the line (administrator and other) workers, Brown perked up and said, "Good question, thirty nine percent are behind the line, the rule of thumb is five percent."

Andrea Horwath, provincial NDP leader. Photo: J.Raudkivi

The leader of the Ontario Provincial New Democratic Party (NDP) Andrea Horwath didn't know the break down but added that in the last ten years the Liberal government hadn't added any infrastructure facilities (this was before the Ontario Liberal Health Minister promised 12,000 long term care beds to an already stretched system, where wait times for beds is into the years).

A troubled health care system seems to be headed to a top heavy state at the expense of the patience.

 

Adu Raudkivi, Toronto

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