New fee for patients who refuse LTC transfer a 'non-starter,' son says

Sooner or later, 95-year-old Hilde Pethkeis going to fall, break her hip and needmedical care, her son says and that could leave her "struggling in a home far away from loved ones."

As of Sunday, Ontario hospitals cancharge patients awaiting spots in long-term care $400 a day if theyrefuseto moveto a temporary homechosen for them bya placement co-ordinator.

It's part of the controversial Bill 7, which took effect in September and put into gear the process for assessing and moving patientswho've been discharged from a hospital but are clinically determined to need ongoing care.

A parallel change tothe province'sPublic Hospitals Act regulations requires hospitals to charge thisdaily fee to patients.

The transfersaremeant to open up hospital beds for other patients untila spot in one of the patient's preferred long-term care homes opens up, the province has said.

"It frees up hospital beds so that people waiting for surgeries can get them sooner," the Ministryof Health and Long-Term Care said in an emailed statement Monday. "It eases pressures on crowded emergency departments by admitting patients sooner."

'It would probably be the end of her'

Under the new rules, hospital patients in southern Ontario can be moved up to 70 kilometres away.

That's too far for comfort for Rainer Pethke, whose mother Hilde has a frail hip that makes her susceptible to a fall and hospital admission.

"That's how you get into long-term care these days," Pethke said.

Pethke said his mother's first choice for along-term care facilityis a mere 25 kilometres from her home of 30 years in Berwick, Ont., southeast of Ottawa.

But she's been on a wait-list there for years, Pethke said.

"My mom, at 95, could not survivebeing moved into a place far away from her family," said Pethke, adding thatHilde suffers from some dementia.

"It would probably be the end of her."

As for a potential $400 charge? "That's a non-starter," Pethke said.

Charter challenge coming: coalition

According to a memorandum to health-care partners obtained by CBC, the province says it is "committed to ensuring patients are compassionately and respectfully supported as they transition to long-term care, where their health and personal care needs can be met and their independence, safety, and quality of life enhanced."

The Ontario Health Coalition and other groups, however, have saidthe new ruleserodepatient rights.

"It's the hammer,"executive director Natalie Mehra said of chargingpatients. "Since most people can't afford $400 aday, they'll go."

The coalition andthe Toronto-basedAdvocacy Centre for the Elderly are planning to announce details Monday of a charter challenge that they'll be launching against Bill 7.

Mehra said the coalition has heard of patients being threatened with the fineseven before the legal mechanism kicked in on Sunday.

The fee won't be chargeduntil 24 hours after the patient is discharged but refuses to budge, according to the memorandum. It also says patients and familieswithconcerns during the process are encouraged to reach out to their hospital's patient relations office.

Read the full memorandum about the changes below.