Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services (NLHS) says they are looking at ways to expedite their response to the recommendations in the Auditor General’s report into personal care homes.
Denise Hanrahan’s audit unveiled some troubling information about the way in which some homes are run, and the way some residents are treated.
The report made 10 recommendations to both NLHS and government, all of which were accepted.
Health Services CEO Pat Parfrey says there are three roles that the health authority plays, those being licensing, monitoring and case management.
Parfrey believes NLHS should be responsible for case management, and discussions are ongoing regarding the other two items, with Parfrey noting that it needs to be done properly.
Auditor General Denise Hanrahan’s performance audit released on April 1, 2025. (VOCM News)
He says it is difficult to revoke a care home’s licence when there are people already dependent on the care, so they need to be able to expedite those changes when necessary. One challenge, Parfrey says, is that nurses are involved in that evaluation, and they are also involved in case management. He says they have a high work volume and not enough staff.
Parfrey says they have also established a Strategic Health Network for personal care homes, which will establish standard policies for homes, and help hold them accountable.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health says it is also working on advancing the recommendations by updating their operational standards, establishing performance indicators, improving serious incident reporting, improving complaint management processes, and enhancing public reporting of inspection reports.
