We’re pleased to share that recruitment has begun for the next Patient Ombudsman Recruitment as well as for members for the Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council. Details for both can be found below.

We’d also like to welcome Matthew Anderson as Ontario Health’s new President and CEO, effective February 1, 2020. Bringing extensive team-building, system change and health care experience to Ontario Health, Mr. Anderson will play a key role in helping to transform Ontario’s public health-care system as Ontario Health continues to support the government’s priority of ending hallway health care. Read the statement from Ontario Health for details.

Patient Ombudsman recruitment

Serving both the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care, the Patient Ombudsman is a champion for fairness in Ontario’s health sector organizations. The Patient Ombudsman helps patients, former patients and caregivers with complaints about their health care by:

  • working with them and the relevant provider organization to seek to resolve their complaints
  • helping them connect with other oversight bodies
  • investigating provider organizations in response to a complaint, or on the Patient Ombudsman’s own initiative
  • making recommendations to health sector organizations following the conclusion of investigations

Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health, was Ontario’s first Patient Ombudsman and recognizes first-hand the critical role that this office plays in improving care for Ontarians. We look forward to working closely with the next Patient Ombudsman as we move forward with ending hallway health care and building a health care system that meets the needs of Ontarians.

Recruiting members for the Minister’s Patient and Family Advisory Council (PFAC)

Patient partnership is critical to the success of the government’s efforts to end hallway health care and build a patient-centred health care system.

We look forward to announcing a new PFAC Chair in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the ministry has begun the process to recruit PFAC members.

We are seeking:

  • collaborative individuals with lived experience as a patient or caregiver in Ontario’s health care system
  • those with experience as a patient and family advisor
  • individuals with knowledge of government decision-making processes, health system priorities and patient and family engagement best practices

Members of the PFAC will support the Chair in providing strategic advice to the Minister of Health on strengthening and expanding patient and family engagement across the health care system to help the government improve the patient, family and caregiver experience.