Frustrated by the lack of public input and a secretive, behind-the-scenes review of home care competitive bidding, front line home care staff are setting up a telephone hotline for Ontarians to call and tell about their experiences receiving and providing home care under a contract bidding system.
After halting home care competitive bidding for the second time in four years, the Ontario Liberal government is again considering its next steps for home care delivery. But the review is being done without input or public consultations with Ontarians.
“That’s not right. If the government doesn’t want to hear from regular people and home care workers what it’s like to receive care or provide care, we do,” says Patricia Pitt-Anderson, a personal support worker (PSW) with a Toronto home care agency, and a member of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE).
Pitt-Anderson, who along with Ontario Health Coalition (OHC) Director Natalie Mehra and Michael Hurley, vice-president of CUPE Ontario, will release the 1-888 hotline number and outline a vision for a public, not-for-profit, cooperative home care system at a Queen’s Park media conference Tuesday, March 11, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
The evidence against home care competitive bidding is stacking up. It shows that, since competition was introduced, the quality of care has suffered, working conditions have diminished, costs have increased as for-profit providers have taken over home care province-wide.
Media Conference
Announcement of Home Care 1-888 hotline
Vision for Public, Not-For-Profit Home Care
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 – 11:00 a.m.
Queen’s Park Media Studio
-30-
For more information, please contact:
Michael Hurley, Vice-President, CUPE Ontario 416-844-0770
Patricia Pitt-Anderson, President, CUPE 3808, 416-970-5443
Natalie Mehra, Director, Ontario Health Coalition, 416-230-6402
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications, 416-578-8774