The Opposition is pressing government to address the growing list of people waiting for long-term care.
Opposition Leader Tony Wakeham says an Access to Information request in December showed 146 people in hospital waiting for other levels of care, including seniors waiting on long-term care.
Wakeham says the ATIPP file shows that number has since doubled.
He questioned Premier John Hogan on how government is addressing the wait list.
Wakeham says the latest ATIPP shows the list of people waiting in hospital beds has now grown to 327, including seniors waiting for long-term care. “Why is this number of people growing?”
“Of course we know there have been some issues with hospital beds and availability for individuals who are in the hospital and really could and should be discharged, but we need to make sure they have somewhere to go,” says the premier.
He says government is working with NLHS to create more ALC beds, to get patients who no longer need to be there out of hospital. Government is also focused on allowing more seniors to stay at home, referencing pilot projects in St. John’s that have worked and they’re exploring those options on a provincial level.
