Ontario set to begin shifting home care responsibilities

Ontario beginsdissolvingits14community care access centresnext week, but critics insist the move won't cut red tape, free up moneyor improve home care for patients.

Every yearmore than 700,000 people in Ontario count on the personal support workers, nurses and therapists who are funded by CCACs.

But the CCACs have been the subject of damning audits, and last Decemberthe government passed its Patients First Act, which handed the responsibility of home care tothelocal health integration networks in each region.

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The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care claimsthe merger will streamline administration of the health care system and lead to better home care.

'No revolution in homecarehere'

But home care advocates aren't convinced.

"The same struggles that have existed today will exist tomorrow," said Heather Duff, who helps coordinate care for clients at theChamplainregion's CCAC and is chair of CUPE Ontario's health care workers sector.

"There is no revolution in homecarehere," agreed NatalieMehra, executive director of the Ontario Health Coalition.

Mehradoesn'tthink the initial eightper cent savings target went far enough, and thinks the move to LHINs won't even achieve that.

The Ministry says 59 upper management jobs will be eliminated across Ontario as a result of the switch, saving about $10.7 milliona year, tobe reinvested in patient care.

Mehra said thehome care apparatus set up under former premier Mike Harris is simply being transferred "wholesale" to LHINs.She would have liked to see a truly public system, instead of continuing to contract private sector agencies to provide care.

"There are so many middlemen, so much profit-taking ... and none of that is going to change," said Mehra.

Done by June 21

In the Ottawa area, theChamplainLHINandtheChamplainCCACboth declined to comment on their upcoming merger, which takesplace May 24.

The mergers will take place across the province starting May 3 and wrapping up June 21.

• May 3 - North Simcoe Muskoka.
• May 10 - Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant.
• May 17 - Waterloo Wellington.
• May 17 - South East (Prince Edward County, Kingston, Bancroft, east to Prescott).
• May 24 - South West.
• May 24 -Champlain(Ottawa, Deep River, east to Quebec border).
• May 31 - Mississauga Halton.
• May 31 - Central West (Brampton, Caledon, Orangeville).
• May 31 - North East (Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, North Bay, Timmins).
• June 7 - Toronto Central.
• June 7 - Central (Newmarket, Markham, Vaughan, north to Lake Simcoe).
• June 21 - Erie St. Clair.
• June 21 - North West.
• June 21 - Central East (Peterborough, Scarborough, Haliburton).