QUEEN’S PARK– NDP MPP Dr. Robin Lennox (Hamilton Centre), Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Addictions, and Primary Care, released a statement following news coverage about the Muskoka Recovery Centre failing to have credentialed nurses and doctors on staff:
“Patients seeking treatment for addiction deserve care that is safe, qualified and accountable. Instead, patients at this private centre were reportedly exposed to unqualified staff, with no trained nurse or doctor on-site, no real treatment programming, all while paying thousands of dollars out-of-pocket.
“Withdrawal from alcohol and the toxic drug supply is a serious medical condition that can be life-threatening. Patients require proper assessment by qualified health professionals and rapid access to standard-of-care treatments to prevent medical complications and other harms.
“Already the Ford government has failed to provide timely access to publicly funded substance use treatment, with many patients waiting more than three months to get care. Now, the Ford government has allowed private bed-based treatment centres to operate without any oversight or regulation, all while extracting huge profits from vulnerable patients and families who are seeking help.
“Put simply, lives are being put at risk due to the Ford government's refusal to ensure basic oversight. Patients shouldn’t have to fear for their safety when they decide to seek treatment, and they should be guaranteed to receive quality care that is safe and accredited.
"I will continue to advocate for the safety of Ontario patients, and I look forward to returning to Queen’s Park this month to move this work forward.”