N.L. reverses decision to make some long-term care rooms double occupancy in Corner Brook

A plan to double up rooms in a Corner Brook long-term care facility has been reversed.

On Tuesday, PC Leader Tony Wakeham questioned Premier Andrew Furey in the House of Assembly about the province's plan to convert single occupancy rooms into double occupancy rooms in Corner Brook's new long-term care facility. 

"Yesterday the seniors' advocate said she 'adamantly opposes the conversion of single occupancy rooms in long-term care homes to double occupancy," Wakeham said. "I ask the premier, will you cancel your decision?"

Furey responded to Wakeham saying the province's intent was never to force seniors into double occupancy rooms.

"The intent was if there was a couple who wanted a double occupancy room that we would provide that as an option," Furey said.

Following feedback from the seniors' advocate, the province retracted that solution.

"We are today going to put a stop to that," Furey said.

On Oct. 25, the province announced it would modify single occupancy rooms at Corner Brook's long-term care centre into double occupancy rooms, resulting in 15 additional beds at Western Memorial Regional Hospital.

The newly opened hospital has 164 beds, of which 120 are reserved for medical and surgical purposes. However, at any given time between 25 and 35 beds can be taken up by patients who no longer need acute care, according to Teara Freake, Newfoundland and Labrador Health Services vice president and COO for the western zone.

Wakeham said the seniors' advocate opposed the conversion of single occupancy rooms to double occupancy rooms on Monday. 

But, Health Minister John Hogan said the government will still work to keep couples together. 

"Some people might want this," he said.

Meanwhile, PC health critic Barry Petten said the province had no choice but to reverse their decision. Keeping couples and family members together is easier said than done.

"You can't defend this stuff," Petten said. "We fight as MHAs daily to get couples together in these long-term care facilities. It's really difficult to do. So, if that was the case, fair enough, but we can't. We are actually based on different levels here. We have trouble getting that accomplished."

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