The CEO of the company liable for residence care in Ontario has been fired, CBC Toronto has discovered.
Cynthia Martineau, previously the CEO of Ontario Well being atHome, was let go after provide issues within the sector persevered for months, leaving individuals — together with palliative sufferers — with out objects wanted for his or her care.
Carol Annett, chair of the corporate’s board of administrators, despatched a word to employees this week confirming that Martineau was leaving.
“For over three years, Cynthia has led our group with compassion, dedication and an unwavering dedication to serving sufferers and their households,” Annett wrote. “She has been instrumental in advancing our organizational targets and we’re grateful for her many contributions.”
Ontario Well being atHome confirmed in an announcement that Martineau is now not with the corporate, including that officers will “proceed to take motion to enhance the supply of high-quality, accessible, and related care.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Well being didn’t reply when requested in an e mail why Martineau was let go, however a supply confirmed to Ontario Chronicle that she was fired.
Points rooted in provide contracts
Again within the fall, Ontario Well being atHome launched new provide contracts for the supply of medical objects — a transfer that has resulted in essential provides for residence care not displaying up for some sufferers once they have been speculated to.
Maxine Laing, who works in central ordering for the company in Halton-Peel, known as that change “a catastrophe” that’s nonetheless impacting sufferers.
“Every single day that I order provides is a frustration, as a result of all the things is out of inventory,” she mentioned. “So our sufferers don’t get the provides that they do require for his or her care.”
Impacted objects embody primary medical merchandise like needles, IV provides, catheters and wound care kits, she mentioned. Not with the ability to correctly present these provides and others to sufferers is growing residence visits for nurses, emergency room visits, and may have an effect on protected discharges from hospital, Laing added.
“The suppliers cannot sustain with the calls for of our purchasers,” she mentioned.
Opposition chief says authorities failing Ontarians
Again within the fall, Premier Doug Ford promised he’d repair these issues.
“I can assure you I’m throughout this,” Ford mentioned. “That is going to be corrected. And the individuals, by the best way, which have messed this up, they are going to be held accountable.”
Opposition NDP Chief Marit Stiles, in the meantime, accused the province of utilizing the spectre of a potential early election to distract from the sorry state of the province’s health-care system.
“This can be a authorities that can’t get medication and medical provides to sick individuals. That is probably the most primary accountability of a authorities, and they’re failing,” she mentioned.
“I am completely satisfied to see any person taking the autumn right here, however I really assume it is the federal government themselves that ought to have taken accountability.”
In response to the employees e mail, an interim CEO is taking on at Ontario Well being atHome with recruitment for a everlasting substitute beginning within the coming weeks.
