TORONTO – POLITICS – The Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine are releasing its first report, providing an overview of the problem of hallway health care in Ontario.
“There’s much to be proud of in our health care system. However, there are also many barriers that make the system difficult to navigate for patients and providers,” said Special Advisor and Chair of the Council Dr. Rueben Devlin. “This report is a first step in advising the government on how to transform Ontario’s health care system.”
The goal of this Council is to provide strategic advice to the Premier and Minister of Health and Long-Term Care that will help to ensure Ontarians have a health care system that has the right mix of health care professionals, the right number of hospital and long-term care beds, and that care is available when and where it’s needed.
Minister of Health and Deputy Premier Christine Elliott says, ” I want to thank the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine, including the Council’s Chair, Dr. Rueben Devlin, and the council members, for developing their first report. I look forward to reviewing its findings.
“Our Government for the People believes that everyone in Ontario deserves to have access to the services they need at home, in the community or at a hospital. That’s why we’re continuing to work with our partners in health care, including the Premier’s Council on Improving Healthcare and Ending Hallway Medicine, as we develop our long-term health care strategy.
“We will continue to listen to patients, families and frontline providers, and we will create a health care system that works for the people of Ontario.”
The Council is comprised of health system leaders, including senior administrators and frontline health care professionals, and is also informed by stakeholder groups and patients. During its first four months, the Council heard from over 340 patients, health care stakeholders, and members of its six sub-committees.
Hallway Health Care: A System Under Strain identifies three key findings:
- Difficulty navigating the health care system and long wait times have a negative impact on patients’ health and on family, provider and caregiver well-being.
- The system is already facing capacity pressures and it does not have the appropriate mix of services, beds or digital tools to be ready for the expected increase in complex care needs.
- More effective coordination at the system level and at the point-of-care would make the system more efficient and achieve better value for taxpayer money.
The Council will now begin developing advice for the government on how to fix the problem of hallway health care. Recommendations will explore opportunities for improvement in digital health care, integrated health care delivery and finding efficiencies in the system to improve health outcomes for Ontarians.
“I encourage Ontarians to participate in the Council’s work by providing feedback on our first report. This will keep us accountable and help us reach our goal of improving healthcare in Ontario and ending hallway medicine,” said Dr. Devlin.
Ontarians can provide feedback on the report by visiting the following website and email address:
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