A draft report on an independent review of long-term care facilities in the province is in the hands of what government calls an expert advisory panel, and a final report is due to be released in the coming months.

The review was launched late last year following calls for an examination of the province’s long term and personal care homes from the Senior’s Advocate.

In 2022, Susan Walsh called for an immediate review, following up on outstanding recommendations made in a 2019 report by the former advocate ‘Long May Your Big Jib Draw’ which outlined a number of concerning issues.

At the time, Walsh told reporters that the details shared with her by family members were “heart-wrenching and fundamentally wrong.”

The contract was awarded to MNP last November to examine quality of care and living conditions at long term care homes.

In March, then-health minister Tom Osborne indicated that a report, which was anticipated in the spring, was coming soon.

The Department of Health says data collection and analysis is complete and the final draft report and its recommendations are currently being reviewed by what the department calls an expert advisory panel.

The department says the final report and its recommendations are expected “in the coming months.”