The provincial government promised that every long-term care home in Ontario would have a thorough inspection completed by mid-January, but a CTV News investigation reveals that hasn't happened.
In fact, while there's been significant progress, nearly a quarter of all homes don't have a completed and published inspection in the last year.
Last month, CTV News reported 60 per cent of homes didn't have a completed inspection in 2014, and while that number has dropped, many still haven't had public Resident Quality Inspections.
In December, Dipika Damerla, associate minister of health and long-term care, said, "By the middle of January every last inspection will be done. There's a holiday season and that is the reason."
Since that promise was made, the number of homes that haven't been inspected in the last year has dropped to just over 23 per cent, while a stunning 17 per cent have never had one.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath says, "That's unacceptable. It shows a complete lack of commitment by the Liberals, it shows that if you don't keep fire under their feet, they'll simply forget their obligations."
Some regions are doing better than others.
In the South West Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), 18 per cent of homes don't have completed inspections for 2014, but that number drops to 16 per cent in Erie St. Clair, while one third of all homes in Waterloo Wellington are outstanding and in Toronto, more than half of the homes are still on the to-do list.
| LHIN | No reported inspection in 2014* | Never inspected |
|---|---|---|
| South West | 14/80 (17.5%) | 8 |
| Erie St. Clair | 6/37 (16.2%) | 5 |
| Waterloo Wellington | 12/36 (33.3%) | 9 |
| Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant | 11/87 (12.6%) | 3 |
| North Simcoe Muskoka | 8/27 (29.6%) | 8 |
| Central West | 6/23 (26%) | 5 |
| Mississauga Halton | 7/28 (25%) | 7 |
| Toronto Central | 19/36 (52.7%) | 16 |
| Central | 23/46 (50 %) | 18 |
| Central East | 13/69 (18.8%) | 9 |
| South East | 0/37 (0%) | 0 |
| Champlain | 7/60 (11.6%) | 3 |
| North East | 14/49 (28.5%) | 10 |
| North West | 7/21 (33.3%) | 6 |
| Total | 147/636 (23.1%) | 108/636 (17%) |
*From Jan. 1, 2014 - Dec. 31, 2014, (as posted on Jan. 22, 2015).
The government says 98 per cent have been inspected, but the final reports either aren't complete or are not yet available for public viewing.
But Horwath says, "Those inspections haven't taken place, or if they haven't been placed on the Internet, then how are families going to be able to do that leg work that they need to do, to have that sense of security?"
The minister said that some inspections were delayed by flu outbreaks at homes, and it should be noted there is a delay between when an inspection occurs, when the report is filed and when its made public.
Usually it's within two months, although we did find dozens of instances where it took six, eight or even 11 months.
A spokesperson for the minister says reports are now being posted weekly and released an email statement saying:
"As of December 31, 2014, 95% of RQIs were completed, and as of today 98% are completed. The remaining inspections will be carried out by the end of January.
"Resident Quality Inspections (RQI) are a part of our ongoing commitment to ensure the safety of residents of Long-Term Care Homes in Ontario...and I expect the completed reports to be online very soon."
