In our report last week we confronted the fact that patient-centred care can be a reality or a dream. RNAO’s work with Ontario Health Teams on person-and-family centred-care was at the centre of a BPSO OHT four hour meeting a few weeks ago, and here we have another glimpse, arising from that meeting, on what person-and-family-centred care looks like from the field. The following is a contribution from Judy Smith, who shares a story about her mother-in-law Reta.

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.

RNAO is supporting the success of Ontario Health Teams (OHT) by offering a new Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) model called BPSO OHT. We are very proud of working with several OHT and today we want to profile the outstanding work of the East Toronto Health Partners OHT (ETHP). We thank our ETHP partners for writing the submission below that updates on their excellent community work to prepare for this year’s Winter Surge, which is likely to include new waves of COVID-19.

This is the RNAO press release in response to the government’s announcement of an independent commission into Ontario's long-term care system.

RN Timea Andersen responds to a letter from retired RN Diana Sebera. She says: "I have always had great appreciation for the calling of nurses working in both palliative and geriatric settings. Clearly, a tremendous amount of education of both other nurses and medical personnel as well as the general public is required about the stigmas and the value our elderly and vulnerable people have to our society as well our obligations to them, whether we know them or not."

Today, we spotlight the needs of persons requiring mental health and addiction services, one of the most neglected sectors in healthcare. On behalf of RNAO, our tremendous appreciation to Kim Moran (CEO, Children’s Mental Health Ontario), Adrienne Spafford (CEO, Addictions and Mental Health Ontario) and Camille Quenneville (CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario) for contributing the article that follows. RNAO calls on government to immediately heed their call!

The COVID pandemic highlights the gaps in the US healthcare system.