QUEEN’S PARK – Oshawa NDP MPP Jennifer French pushed the Wynne Liberals again to stop turning their backs on patients in Durham Region, who continue to suffer through long waits in overcrowded hospitals. MPP French raised the issue directly with the Minister of Health during a committee meeting on Wednesday.
“People in my community are being forced to receive their medical care in overcrowded hospitals and that is a direct result of decades of Liberal and Conservative cuts to health care,” said French. “No one should go to the hospital for help, only to be left waiting hours for care.”
Internal documents obtained by the NDP show that Lakeridge Health Oshawa’s mental health beds have been operating well above safe occupancy levels for months at a time. On average, Oshawa’s mental health beds were operating at 117.49 per cent capacity from January through May of this year.
“Patients shouldn’t be lined up out the door, or packed into every nook and cranny,” said French. “This isn’t just a problem, it’s a crisis.”
“Why is it acceptable to you to force hospitals in Oshawa to continually operate with occupancy rates over 100 per cent?” asked French.