Saskatchewan Requests Investigation of COVID-19 Outbreak at Regina’s Extended Care Parkside

The· State government Ombudsman Saskatchewan is requesting to investigate and provide a report on COVID-19 Occurrence in Extended Care Parkside Special Care Home At Regina.

According to the state, the Extended Care Parkside outbreak caused more than 200 infections between residents and staff and killed 38 residents.

The request was sent to the state ombudsman Mary McFaddien on Friday. And signed by the Ministers of Mental Health and Addiction, Elderly and Rural and Remote Health in Everett Hindley, Saskatchewan.

“As Minister for the Elderly, the outbreak and subsequent impact on residents and staff is a serious concern for me and the Saskatchewan Government,” Hindley said in a letter.

“I would like you to investigate and report on the situation surrounding the outbreak.”

Here’s a breakdown of what the state wants to investigate:

• Pre-outbreak prevention and management practices by Extended Care Parkside, pandemic planning and COVID-19 outbreak preparation, including areas where early learning from other jurisdictions has informed the plan.
• Guidance established by Extendicare Parkside in compliance with state public health orders and by the Ministry of Health, the state’s chief health officer, and the Saskatchewan Department of Health.
• Identification of the first positive cases and situations that led to further infection with the COVID-19 virus within the facility, including but not limited to the proper use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and the effects of the condition of the facility at Extendicare Parkside. ..
• Extendicare Parkside’s first response to positive cases and immediate action thereafter (notification of residents, notification of resident supporters such as family members, or notification of relatives of the Saskatchewan Department of Health, resident primary Caregiver involvement and implementation) Infection prevention and management process
• Saskatchewan Department of Health and Extendicare Inc. Response by Extendicare Parkside until the date when the joint management contract was signed.
• Extendicare Parkside complies with regulations on housing and special needs facilities and their obligations under their principles and service contracts. And
• Other matters that you (the ombudsman) consider to be relevant.

The Saskatchewan Department of Health (SHA) and Extendicare signed a joint management agreement on December 8, 2020 to address the outbreak. The agreement will continue until February 15, 2021.

The state states that SHA, Extendicare, and the Ministry of Health are aware that the request is ready to fully cooperate with the investigation.

The Saskatchewan NDP welcomed the investigation, but said the state’s request failed in some respects.

1:42Saskatchewan Nurses’ Union Calls for Public Investigation on Outbreak of Parkside Extended Care COVID-19

“The government’s request included a reference to Extendicare’s financial arrangement as Saskatchewan’s only commercial provider of long-term care, as requested by my colleague and senior NDP critic Matt Love. Not, “says Saskatchewan NDP. A statement sent by email on Friday.

“We also did not ask the ombudsman to investigate the role of the Saskatchewan Department of Health or the Ministry of Health, which was NDP at the Commission when it submitted a motion to the state auditor to carry out this investigation. Is a specific call made by. “

Previous reports have killed at least 41 residents in the outbreak of parkside extended care.

“On January 20, three deaths were removed from the state’s deaths from COVID-19 because it was determined to be unrelated to COVID-19,” the state replied to Global News in an email on Friday. ..

“The change on January 20th may be due to differences. No further details are available. The number of cases and other numbers may change as new information becomes available.”

— More in the future.

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