Common Ground | Terrain commun A Culture of Health

Increased NURSE TO PATIENT RATIO FROM 5:1 to 3:1 while returning the 100 residency doctor spots cut this year. My Grandfather DR Alan Brown ran Sick Kids for 40 years cutting the infant mortality rate in half by insisting the Premier pasteurized milk BUT also insisted that patients received care SAFE ratios mean patients leave without complications, with minimal pain and alive His Doctors provided the procedures , however ...more »

The Government of Ontario should develop a comprehensive action plan in consultation with patients, practitioners, hospital administrators, policy makers and advisory groups like Health Quality Ontario to realistically address our aging population's healthcare needs.

The current mental health system is really a mental "illness" system. Access especially by the most vulnerable citizens is not possible until one is severely mentally ill. We must re-orient the system so that a "continuum" of mental health services is available beginning at the earliest point through to acute care phase of illness.

Right now, people in Canada have to register as organ donors to be recognized as a donor. Ontario should move to an opt-out system. The evidence is clear - people are patiently waiting for organs and tissues which could significantly improve lives but many are let down by our current system. There is correlation between countries having a donor opt-out system and having a higher number of organ donations. In "opt-out" ...more »

Currently we have a "illness" driven system of healthcare. I would like to see a prevention focus in Ontario. Suggestion: Establish a "Ministry of Chronic Disease Prevention." This includes both mental health and addictions and physical disease prevention and would bring together the most analytical minds across the province to evolve prevention approaches. This would set our province apart not only here in Canada but ...more »

WHEREAS sexual assault examination kits are used by medical personnel when examining victims in order to properly collect and deliver DNA evidence to a forensic laboratory, whereby testing can establish proof of the assault and the assailant’s identity ; WHEREAS access to rape kit equipment varies provincial and territorially, with some hospital health care staff having to call Mounties to bring in the equipment ; WHEREAS ...more »

Ontario and Canada should follow the route of Europe where GMO foods are banned and we should start with GMO labeling and to also ban Monsanto products so that Canada can have fresh food free of biotechnology and cross-breeding and pesticides and herbicides. This is the best path to get the best quality products and so people can be truly healthy. Another important step for Ontario to follow is getting away from big box ...more »

We will enable the long-term life quality benefits of funding treatments received at home or in community such as vaccinations which protect against major diseases (e.g., pneumonia shots and newer shingles vaccines), and physiotherapy, massage therapy, chiropraxis, and some dental procedures which protect against heart disease. We will improve the quality of compassion and authorization of effective rehabilitative services ...more »

Families with Children with mental issues must get tax relief, automatically they should receive disability tax credit, Parents have to get in tons of debt to help their kid with different treatments, special programs, extra curricular activities, private schools, etc. Several kids with mental illnesses can't be part of a public school so parents have to make loans to get them in private school which are very expensive. ...more »

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s recent decision to terminate operations of the Ontario Mental Health Foundation and assume responsibility for related funding will inevitably decrease accessibility thereto. The ministry cites an increase of independent treatment centers as a key incentive for this switch. However, these centers, composed largely of privately practicing clinicians and non-profits, lack cohesiveness ...more »

Mental health costs the Canadian economy $51 billion per year. A large part of this cost comes from missed work and lowered productivity. Our proposal is to give all Ontario workers a fixed number of days off work, with no penalty and no requirement for a formal diagnosis. This will show Canadians that their mental health is a priority, and reduce the stigma in the workplace, while having the potential to educate employers ...more »

A separate minister would better be able to focus on these pivotal issues and help finish implementation of the Health Ministry's Open Minds, Healthy Minds long term strategy.

A link to the ministry strategy: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/ministry/publications/reports/mental_health2011/mentalhealth.aspx

Steps need to be taken to ensure that our long-term care institutions are properly regulated and inspected. The recent murders of seven patents in a nursing home in Woodstock should be a call to action by the Province to adequately and rigorously fund ongoing inspections of these types of facilities. Our seniors deserve better care and attention.

Whether a person lives with Chronic Pain from a hereditary condition like EhlersDanlos Syndrome and either of its comorbid conditions where life saving treatments and quality of life giving surgeries may be required, or if they live with acquired Chronic Pain, as a disease in its own right, there are gaps in access to care that go well beyond surgical treatments. The federal government is not recognizing chronic pain ...more »

Often employers seek sick notes for employees needing a sick day as proof of illness, this practice often results as a tax on the sick as doctors notes are not covered by OHIP, but as well for many short term illness that are 1-3 days long that do not warrant medical intervention. This practice is no doubt a burden upon our healthcare system and working people of this province for the sole reason of employers not placing ...more »