Support to establish the Infection and Prevention Control (IPAC) hub model as an ongoing program (Motion #22-21)

Moved by R. Kirwan – G. Massicotte

Approved by Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts, June 17, 2021

WHEREAS Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) programming is a requirement of the Board of Health under the Ontario Public Health Standards; and

WHEREAS in September 2020, in the context of COVID-19 outbreaks and tragic outcomes in long-term care homes, the Provincial Government announced the establishment of IPAC Hubs across the province to support infection prevention and control in community settings, including long-term care homes; and

WHEREAS in Northern Ontario, the Hub host organizations are public health units (hospitals in the South), each of which received one-time funding in December 2020 to develop local networks to enhance IPAC practices in community based, congregate living settings; and

WHEREAS Public Health Sudbury & Districts’ funding of $840,000 has funded a very successful multi-partner network serving congregate living settings through the service area; and

WHEREAS Ontario’s Long-Term Care COVID-19 Commission April 2021 Final Report identified an urgent need for supports related to infection prevention and control, for the benefit of all clients in congregate living facilities;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Health for Public Health Sudbury & Districts request the Provincial Government to transition the IPAC Hub model to an ongoing program with stable annual funding to provide for the protection from infectious diseases for residents in long-term care and other congregate living settings; and

FURTHER that this motion be shared with Ministers of Health and of Long-Term Care, area partners, Northern boards of health, Ontario Health, and the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

UNANIMOUSLY CARRIED

This item was last modified on June 21, 2021