May 3, 2010
Proposed Amendments to Protection for Persons in Care Act Would Improve Patient Safety for More Manitobans: Oswald
– – –Amendments Would Require Broader Abuse Reporting, Investigation
A proposed amendment to the Protection for Persons in Care Act would expand the reporting requirements to include adult patients receiving care in emergency departments, urgent-care centres in health-care facilities and geriatric day hospitals, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.
“This act is an important safeguard in our health-care system and its expansion would help protect even more people who may be at risk,” said Oswald. “These amendments would help identify and address abuse quickly and effectively in more health-care settings and would help to limit physical and emotional trauma. This is possible because of the support of health-care workers and concerned Manitobans, who should also be commended for taking action against abuse.”
Under the amendments, anyone who believes there is suspected or potential physical, sexual, mental, emotional or financial abuse of a patient in a geriatric day hospital, an emergency department or an urgent-care centre of a health facility would be required to report to the Protection for Persons in Care Office (PPCO). The changes would ensure Manitoba remains a national leader in protecting people in care, said Oswald.
All complaints would assessed and reviewed by the PPCO. If the review determines there are reasonable grounds to believe that abuse has occurred or is likely to occur, the PPCO would conduct an investigation. The investigator would have to complete a report of the investigation findings, which could lead to the minister issuing directions to facilities in order to protect patients. Facility operators would have to comply with these directives.
The original act, proclaimed in May 2001, currently requires reporting and investigation of suspected or potential abuse of adult residents of personal-care homes, inpatients of hospitals and Selkirk Mental Health Centre and people receiving respite care in a hospital or personal-care home. Concerned individuals who suspect an abusive situation in any of these facilities can contact the PPCO at 788-6366 or toll-free at 1-866-440-6366.
For more information about the Protection for Persons in Care Office and the act, visit www.manitoba.ca/health/protection.
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