Coronavirus: Canada nursing home patients left in dirty diapers, with cries for help ignored, ‘heart-wrenching’ report says
- Soldiers helping to manage outbreak describe dire situation at care facilities, including ‘significant fecal contamination’ and reuse of unsterilised equipment
- Nursing homes account for around 80 per cent of all coronavirus-related deaths in Canada
Canadian soldiers helping to manage the coronavirus outbreak in nursing homes saw staff leaving people in soiled diapers, ignoring calls for help and reusing unsterilised equipment, an official report said on Tuesday.
Nursing homes account for around 80 per cent of all deaths attributed to the new coronavirus in Canada. The situation is dire in Ontario and Quebec, the two most populous provinces, where around 1,400 soldiers are working.
A report by the armed forces on five of the worst-affected Ontario homes revealed residents left in soiled diapers as well as “significant fecal contamination”, cockroaches and ants in patient rooms.
At one point “patients [were] observed crying for help with staff not responding for 30 mins to over two hours,” it said.
“It was the most heart-wrenching report I have read in my entire life,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford, at one point on the verge of tears.