TORONTO — Northwestern Ontario residents needing a long-term-care bed are waiting substantially longer than people in most other parts of the province.
According to a recent report from the province's Financial Accountability Officer, Peter Weltman, the median time for placement in the northwest is 198 days, compared with the Ontario-wide median of only 146 days.
It means area residents are waiting about 33 per cent longer than residents in the rest of the province, on average.
In northeastern Ontario, the median wait time is even shorter, at 116 days.
Weltman compiled information from the province's 14 Local Health Integration Networks.
The North West LHIN reported the third highest median wait time for long-term-bed placement.
The longest wait time – 263 days – was reported by the Central East LHIN (Durham and Peterborough area), while the shortest – 68 days – was reported by the Erie St. Clair (Windsor, Sarnia and Chatham) LHIN.
Weltman said the province's aging population is outpacing the growth rate for new LTC beds.