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Ontario Appoints New Patient Ombudsman

Summary

Our government has appointed Craig Thompson as Ontario’s new Patient Ombudsman to help improve the quality of care and supports patients and their families receive in hospitals, long-term care homes, and select home and community care settings.

Key Messages

  • The roles and responsibilities of the Patient Ombudsman include:
    • Investigating and facilitating the resolution of complaints from patients and caregivers concerning public hospitals, long-term care homes and home and community care services that are provided or coordinated through the Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs);
    • Making recommendations to health sector organizations and provides reports to the Minister of Health which inform provincewide health system quality improvement; and
    • Continuing the ongoing investigation launched by the Office of the Patient Ombudsman on June 2, 2020, into the province’s long-term care homes to identify challenges and provide recommendations to improve long-term care homes’ response to future infectious outbreaks.
  • Mr. Thompson brings over 30 years of leadership experience in the health care sector and community, including at the Office of the Patient Ombudsman and as the past co-Chair of the Patient Experience Steering Committee at Cancer Care Ontario, and has been a passionate advocate for the voices of patients and caregivers because he knows they can be a powerful catalyst of change.
  • Mr. Thompson’s experience will be invaluable as Patient Ombudsman as Ontario continues to protect the health and safety of individuals and families during COVID-19 and beyond.

News Links

English: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/60951/ontario-appoints-new-patient-ombudsman-1

French: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/release/60956/lontario-nomme-un-nouvel-ombudsman-des-patients