TORONTO - sa国际传媒's largest veterans facility already has sufficient government oversight, so there's no need to impose further accountability measures, Ontario's Health Minister Deb Matthews says.
In an interview, Matthews ruled out regulatory changes that would put Sunnybrook Veterans Centre under Ontario's Long-Term Care Homes Act, despite calls to do so.
"The short answer is no, because there's clear oversight responsibility," Matthews said.
"Broadly speaking, they're providing very good care there; I'm not seeing the problem that needs to be fixed."
After complaints about substandard care of the centre's most frail residents surfaced last fall, Ontario's Ministry of Health denied any oversight responsibility.
Instead, the ministry argued, the centre fell under Ottawa's jurisdiction, a position that left federal officials privately scratching their heads.
However, a recent federal audit sparked by the complaints concluded Ottawa's responsibility extended to ensuring its $26-million annual contribution is spent properly, while quality issues fall squarely to the province, which spends another $29.2 million.
The audit also noted provincial legislation that governs long-term care facilities does not apply to the veterans centre.
"I guess it's history," Matthews said by way of explanation.
However, she said two pieces of provincial legislation that apply to all hospitals also apply to Sunnybrook 鈥� and that's enough oversight.
Mike Blais, president of Canadian Veterans Advocacy, disagreed, noting there are no mandatory external inspections of the vets centre.
"Oversight continues to elude, regardless of what she says," Blais said.
Blais said he was pleased Matthews now recognizes the province's obligation to the 500 elderly veterans who call Sunnybrook home.
However, he said, the obligation should extend to applying the Long-Term Care Homes Act, which, among other things, mandates annual inspections with results made public.
"There's still this cloud of secrecy over Sunnybrook," Blais said.
"This is why it's important that the Ontario government implements measures that are equal in value to those in place at long-term care homes across this province, because that's what Sunnybrook is."
Some relatives, who complained about neglect and unsanitary conditions at the centre, said they feel let down.
"Families are devastated at the lack of accountability and oversight by both governments," said Debra Stuart, one of a group of relatives unhappy with the care their loved ones are receiving.
Both provincial opposition parties are calling for more oversight, with New Democrat health critic France Gelinas pushing for the long-term care act to apply.
"It automatically brings a whole new suite of oversight mechanisms that protect quality, that protect the client, and that give answers to family," Gelinas said recently.
The federal audit, which did not address specific complaints, uncovered no systemic care issues but was highly critical of how the facility handles concerns and communicates with family members. It made seven recommendations, which Sunnybrook CEO Barry McLellan promised to implement.
Niklaus Schwenker, spokesman for Veterans Affairs Minister Steven Blaney, said Friday the feds would monitor the situation along with the veterans ombudsman.
"We expect the full implementation of the audit's recommendations by the provincial Ministry of Health within their facility," Schwenker said.
A separate review initiated by Sunnybrook also found no systemic care issues.
However, the review validated some complaints, among them that residents are moved too often. It also echoed concerns about understaffing, lack of access to equipment and supplies, and toxic relations between staff and relatives of residents.
