Why is RNAO insisting that the federal government set National Standards for LTC homes in Canada and tie federal funding to upholding jurisdictions to deliver those standards? In short, we’ve lost trust that the Ontario government will act in any substantive way in the absence of external pressure. In Ontario alone, more than 35 reports on LTC have been issued in 21 years, and although during this period we’ve had a number of different governments, not much has been done to improve the lives of LTC residents, their families and the hard-working staff that serve them.

Wednesday’s federal Throne Speech was an important policy moment in Canada. Please see below RNAO’s press release issued after the Speech. RNAO was successful in achieving two major asks in our Vision for A Just Recovery for All: 1) the federal government will work with the provinces and territories to set National Standards for Long-Term Care (LTC) so that seniors get the best support possible, with funding attached to those standards, and 2) strengthening the National Housing Strategy announced in 2017 by increasing investments to rapid housing in the short term, and partnering with not-for-profits and co-ops in the mid- to long-term. The commitment is to end chronic homelessness.

RNAO is a member of Choosing Wisely Canada and together we partner in helping reduce unnecessary tests and treatments in health care through Choosing Wisely initiatives. We appreciate their contribution of the following article with important recommendations for making our blood supply and hospital services more efficient and accessible.

Nursing plays a critical role in ensuring that evidence-based transfusion practices are followed. Nurses are an important part of the transfusion team that includes the ordering clinicians (including NPs) and the medical laboratory technologists in the blood bank. Often, the nurse may be the individual who follows up on abnormal hemoglobin results and is also aware of whether the patient is symptomatic or bleeding. The nurse will also be the first point of contact for the medical laboratory technologists calling the floor to inquire about the patient’s status, and the first to notice most of the acute adverse events related to transfusion.

Read RNAO's statement issued on August 31.

RNAO has been particularly active in recent months addressing structural inequities that led to vulnerable populations suffering the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. RNAO is adding its voice to a campaign launched in June supported by hundreds of progressive organizations in Canada calling for a just and sustainable recovery from COVID-19. RNAO is the first large nursing organization in Canada to join, and we urge all other nursing organizations to add their voices to this tremendous international initiative. We can’t go back to business-as-usual after the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we’re building a movement for a #JustRecoveryforAll that puts people first.