Do we need an inquiry into how to fix LTC? No, you're right. We know plenty.

But I do think we need a public inquiry that's SPECIFIC to long-term care and #Covid_19. Here's why:

#LTCs #onpoli https://twitter.com/heath_bullock/status/1265463649084362754

1. Based on what I've heard anecdotally, the conditions reported by the military aren't limited to the 5 LTCs in the report.

How widespread & how bad have the issues been?

2. LTC staff (RNs, RPNs, PSWs) & their unions have been sounding the alarm for a long time. Hospitals have been working closely w LTCs AND informing the Ministry about how bad things have been.

Why didn't the provincial government act sooner? What would've made them act?

3. Also, who within the province knew the severity of the problems in LTC?

Did the right people know? Did the Minister of Health & LTCs know? The premier? Why? Why not?

4. Did having seperate Minsiteries for Health and LTC help or hinder the processes?

(Personal take: From convos I've had, not the best idea to have had them seperated.)

5. Finally, to be frank, the degree of negligence in any other context would be considered criminal.

No, I don't think the PSWs, RNs, RPNs providing care should be the ones held responsible.

But what do we know of the roles others within the LTC played?

Where were the medical directors, the family physicians who looked after these residents, the directors of care, the executive directors, the boards, the owners?

Who had what responsibility? Were those responsibilities clear?

All this to say that I think there are A LOT of issues to understand about what what went wrong for LTCs w #Covid_19.

It's not merely an issue of funding but issues of crisis management & pandemic planning for LTCs. I don't think previous inquiries have addressed these issues.