By: Mike Anderson
Despite assistance from Southlake Regional Health Centre, River Glen Haven continues to face staffing shortages, as administrative staff are now being asked to provide care to residents, according to several RGH staff members who wish to remain anonymous.
PSWs working 12-hour shifts at the nursing home are also being asked to work overtime hours, in some cases, as much as four hours after their shift ends.
According to one source, several PSWs are on the verge of collapse from exhaustion and stress.
Some staff members have also declined to report to work due to fears of contracting the virus, although the exact number is not known.
Sixteen front-line staff at RGH are now infected, as 38 residents have tested positive with four COVID-19 deaths reported.
While Southlake has tested residents and staff and is assisting with infection prevention, education and PPE training, it’s not clear how many actual hospital staff are in the facility on a daily basis.
For instance, Southlake has not yet deployed nursing staff to the home, according to the ministry of health.
RGH is currently relying on its agency staff and Central LHIN volunteers to support resident care, said Hayley Chazan, a senior spokesperson with the ministry of health in an email to The Post.
“Southlake is conducting a review of the home’s staffing needs to better understand its current status, needs and patterns,” she said.
“A high-level work-plan will be shared this week and could include the possible deployment of hospital staff to River Glen, based on the outcome of this review.”
Ms. Chazan also said there are no plans to move residents to Southlake Regional Health Centre or another offsite location.
The Post has attempted to contact Karen Ryan, the administrator at RGH, and the home’s owner, Jordan Kannampuzha, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of ATK Care Group Ltd, to comment on the staffing shortage, but, as of posting, no response has been received.
The Post has also asked Mr. Kannampuzha to comment on his decision to repair the nursing home’s parking lot during the outbreak, as the construction has forced EMS vehicles to use the rear entrance.
However, again, as of posting, no response has been forthcoming.
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