STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2018-2021 • (@~ SIJOSEPHs HEALTH CARE • • LONDON . . ' .

To: St. Joseph’s Board of Directors From: Roy Butler, President and CEO CARE PARTNERSHIPS '!!ADVOCACY & COLLABORATIONSCIII Date: August 31, 2021 EARNING COMPLETE CONFIDENCE

I am honoured to have started this month as President and CEO of St. Joseph’s Health Care London. Although I have been a senior leader at St. Joseph’s for several years, I am intentionally taking time as I move into this role to listen and learn with fresh eyes and ears. Aligned with that, I have completed a SWOT-like analysis with every senior leader – listening to their perspectives on aspirations, strengths, and risks/concerns for their portfolio and for the organization. I had the benefit of spending time with Dr. Gillian Kernaghan in August to ensure a smooth transition and have greatly appreciated Gillian’s commitment to this process.

My stakeholder engagement in August has also included meeting with the interim CEO of London Health Sciences Centre, the new Assistant Deputy Minister of Hospitals and Capital Division of the Ministry of Health, Transitional Regional Lead of Ontario Health West, Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Health Care Society, the President as well as Board Chair of the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada, Dean of Western University’s Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, and the President of Western.

As we move into September, I will continue my orientation with Chair/Chiefs of our programs, Board Committee Chairs, Fanshawe College, and regional hosptial and community CEOs. I will also be visiting our sites to speak with as many members of our St. Joseph’s family as possible about their aspirations for St. Joseph’s, concerns, and how we continue to build upon our strengths as we transition to a new normal post COVID-19 and beyond.

As a Senior Leadership Team, we will begin to identify key milestones for the last two quarters of 2021-2022 and prepare and respond to the fourth wave of the pandemic that is upon us.

Similar to previous years and for continuity, this August Board report provides you with only the environmental scan and “St. Joseph’s in the News” to help you stay up to date on health care issues and happenings in the news regionally, provincially, nationally and for St. Joseph’s.

Heading into September, I will be reviewing the content and structure of the board report and seeking input to ensure I am providing you with information that meets your needs. You will receive my first full board report in September. I look forward to the discussions, discernment and explorations we will take on together at this remarkable time in health care.

Page 1 of 12 Environmental Scan

Pandemic leaves Canadians in fear of long-term care: survey Nearly half of Canadians (47 per cent) will do whatever it takes to avoid ending up in a long- term care facility, and to keep close family members out, according to an Angus Reid poll that shows the pandemic has fundamentally fractured the way such facilities are perceived. One-in- five (22 per cent) say they’ll start saving for such a plan, while more than twice that number say they “dread” the thought of living in long-term care (44 per cent). Other findings include: • If the industry is to be improved, three-quarters of Canadians say either significant changes (45 per cent) or a total overhaul (31 per cent) is necessary. • At least three-in-five residents in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada say that the federal government should be directly involved in creating standards for the industry. • Three-in-five say private care should be minimized or phased out, rising to two-thirds among those 55 years of age and older. • Seven in 10 (72 per cent) say Canada should invest more in homecare, and 55 per cent say they would be willing to pay more in taxes to accomplish it in their own province.

Angus Reid Institute, July 26, 2021

Ontario ramping up efforts to reduce surgical wait times The Ontario government is investing up to $324 million in new funding to enable Ontario’s hospitals and community health sector to perform more surgeries, MRI and CT scans and procedures as part of a wider, comprehensive surgical recovery plan to provide patients with the care they need. For hospitals, the recovery plan includes the following: • $300 million from the 2021 Budget dedicated to help the hospital sector recover and perform thousands more surgeries and diagnostic imaging hours, and help reduce wait times • $216 million for hospitals to extend operating room hours into evenings and weekends and perform up to 67,000 additional surgeries on top of the typical volume of 650,000 scheduled surgeries that happen in main operating rooms each year • $35 million for MRI and CT imaging, enabling more than 75,000 additional hours of MRI scanning and more than 60,000 additional hours of CT scanning, on top of the 577,000 hours and 550,000 hours that happen each year, respectively. This represents a 12 per cent overall increase in available hours. • $18 million investment in centralized surgical waitlist management to increase use of electronic referrals and support work to enable efficient tracking of surgical information, making better use of specialist and hospital resources and reducing patient wait times • $1 million for surgical smoothing coaching from an expert team of experienced surgeons and administrators to support knowledge sharing and best practices to optimize the use of operating rooms at key high-volume hospitals • $30 million for the new Surgical Innovation Fund to help hospitals in each region of the province to address barriers and increase their surgical output

Ministry of Health, July 28, 2021

Pfizer claims third dose 'strongly' boosts protection against Delta variant A third dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine can "strongly" boost protection against the Delta variant – beyond the protection afforded by the standard two doses, suggests new data released by Pfizer on July 28, 2021.

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The data suggest that antibody levels against the Delta variant in people ages 18 to 55 who receive a third dose of vaccine are greater than five-fold than following a second dose. Among people ages 65 to 85, the Pfizer data suggest that antibody levels against the Delta variant after receiving a third dose of vaccine are greater than 11-fold than following a second dose.

CTV News, July 28, 2021

Incidence of dementia forecast to triple worldwide by 2050 The number of people with dementia is forecast to triple to an estimated 152 million worldwide by 2050, according to new data. To make this prediction, researchers with the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington School of Medicine analyzed data from 1999 to 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease study, which is a comprehensive set of health trends estimates worldwide. They also incorporated information on trends in dementia risk factors into the study.

The highest increase in prevalence is projected to be in eastern sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East.

According to their analysis, the researchers projected increases could largely be attributed to population growth and aging, although they said the relative importance of these two factors varied by world region.

CTV News, July 28, 2021

Doctors, nurses groups call for mandatory vaccination of health care workers The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) and the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) are jointly calling for COVID-19 vaccinations to be made mandatory for health care workers to protect patients and workers while helping to maintain capacity in the health care system. The two organizations have joined a growing number of calls – including that of Ontario Medical Association and the Registered Nurses Association of Ontario – to make vaccines a mandatory condition of employment in the health care sector.

"There is significant evidence that vaccines are safe and effective and as health professionals who are leading the vaccination campaigns, it is the right call and an appropriate step," said CMA president Dr. Ann Collins.

CBC News, August 3, 2021

Canada's health system ranked second last among 11 countries: report A new report by the Commonwealth Fund has ranked Canada's health system second last, ahead of the United States among high-income countries. The report ranked 11 high-income countries on key health system measures, including equity, access to care, affordability, health- care outcomes, and administrative efficiency.

The report found that the top-performing health systems overall are in Norway, the Netherlands, and Australia, while Switzerland, Canada and the U.S. were the countries with the worse health care systems, respectively. However, the report noted that the U.S. performance falls "far below" Switzerland and Canada's despite these countries being ranked directly above it.

Page 3 of 12 The countries were ranked by an expert advisory panel using Commonwealth Fund international surveys conducted in each country prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as administrative data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Health Organization.

The report ranked Canada 10th overall, as well as in two major categories: equity and health care outcomes. The inequities include financial barriers to accessing medical and dental care, medical bill burdens, difficulty obtaining after-hours care, and the use of web portals to facilitate patient engagement.

CTV News, August 4, 2021

Ontario releases back-to-school plan Ontario students will return to the classroom full-time in September 2021 with remote learning continuing to be an option, the province confirmed in its official back-to-school strategy.

Staff and students Grade 1 and up must wear masks in indoor settings, with exceptions such as during meal breaks and low-contact physical activities, and self-screening will be required before coming into school facilities. Team sports, field trips and extracurricular activities will be back on, along with assemblies and recess. Students can also share materials such as toys and art supplies and be in shared spaces including libraries and cafeterias.

But the 29-page document contains no protocols on managing COVID-19 outbreaks, nor does it set a threshold for when schools or classrooms should be shut down.

CBC News, August 3, 2021

Quebec to implement vaccine passport system Quebec Premier François Legault has announced that vaccine passports will soon be required to access non-essential services such as gyms and restaurants. The system, he said, will allow the province to avoid the widespread closures that have marked its pandemic response to date.

For several months, the province has been issuing QR codes, or quick response codes, to vaccinated people. These codes, which can be printed or stored on a mobile device, are scanned to pull up information about a person's vaccination status. So far, the province has not provided anyone with the information to interpret the codes.

Legault said details will be released soon, and that rising case numbers and the prospect of more hospitalizations and deaths have made a vaccine passport system necessary.

CBC News, August 5, 2021

Diabetics face increased risk of infection death People with diabetes are 92 per cent more likely to require hospitalization to help fight an infection and face a 72 per cent greater risk of death from infection than non-diabetics, according research, published in the journal Diabetologia. The study found the association held across all sub-groups but was strongest among Black patients and people below the age of 55. In Canada, one in three Canadians are currently living with prediabetes or diabetes,

Diabetes has long been thought to increase the risk of infection because the disease weakens the immune system’s ability to stop the spread of problematic pathogens. Previous research has

Page 4 of 12 shown people with diabetes have an elevated risk of common and rare infections – a concerning risk factor in the age of COVID-19. From 2000 to 2015 the overall rate of hospitalization from infections in U.S. adults rose significantly, especially in people with diabetes, researchers say. Despite this, few studies have taken a large-scale look at how these rates of infection hospitalization – and their outcomes – differ between diabetics and non- diabetics in the general population over time.

To address this, researchers used data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study to identify a group of 12,379 U.S. participants who underwent clinical examinations and other lab tests between 1987 and 1989 and then returned for seven follow-up sessions that stretched into 2019.

Over a period of 23.8 years, researchers identified 4,229 relevant trips to the hospital for infection and found people with diabetes faced an increased risk (25.4 per cent) compared to non-diabetics (15.2 per cent). Once they adjusted for socioeconomic factors, researchers concluded that diabetics had an infection hospitalization rate 93 per cent higher than those without the disease and a mortality risk that was 72 per cent greater.

Healthing.ca, August 6, 2021

Health Canada updates Pfizer vaccine label regarding very rare reports of Bell's palsy Health Canada as updated the product information for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to acknowledge very rare reports of Bell’s palsy following vaccination. In an advisory issued August 6, 2021, the agency said it decided to update the labelling after a small number of people in Canada and internationally reported temporary weakness or paralysis on one side of the face shortly after receiving the vaccine.

The department continues to assure Canadians the vaccines are safe and effective in protecting against COVID-19, and that the benefits of being vaccinated far outweigh the risks.

Health Canada, August 6, 2021

Long-term care homes call for mandatory vaccines for health care workers The Ontario Long-Term Care Association has joined the list of health care organizations asking for mandatory vaccination for health care workers. Making vaccines mandatory province-wide, says the group, would both protect residents and ensure facilities don’t lose their staff to other health care facilities. Their call echoes recommendations from the Ontario Medical Association, Canadian Medical Association, Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, and the Canadian Nurses Association.

Global News, August 10, 2021

Ontario reveals new rules on managing COVID-19 cases, outbreaks With Ontario facing a delta variant-driven fourth wave of COVID-19, the provincial government has released guidelines around testing and self-isolation for those who might be exposed to the virus – with the rules dependent on vaccination status. Overall, vaccinated Ontarians will be subject to fewer restrictions and more lenient isolation requirements compared to people who are unvaccinated. Among the rules are: • Vaccinated people: Those who are vaccinated, asymptomatic and exposed to a confirmed case are "likely" (depending on their specific public health unit) not required to self-isolate, but should get tested. Those people should also self-monitor

Page 5 of 12 for any symptoms for 10 days, as well as follow public health measures like wearing masks outside their home. People in this category are also instructed to self-isolate and get tested if they develop symptoms. Members of their household don't need to self-isolate. • Unvaccinated people: Those who are unvaccinated and exposed to a confirmed case must to self-isolate for 10 days and immediately get tested. If the test is negative, a second test is recommended on or after day seven of that self-isolation period. Fully-immunized household members don't need to self-isolate. But if they aren't vaccinated, they should stay home except for "essential reasons" like work or school during the exposed person's isolation period.

CBC News, August 11, 2021

Vaccinations to be mandated at Huron-Perth hospitals While continuing to focus its efforts on strengthening vaccine confidence and voluntary vaccinations for staff, physicians and midwives, the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance (HPHA) Board of Directors endorsed all measures to increase rates, up to and including implementing mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations.

All unvaccinated HPHA team members are required to submit signed confirmation of their current intention to decline to be vaccinated. Furthermore, the organization will be requiring unvaccinated team members to participate in mandatory COVID-19 education and undergo regular COVID-19 testing, to be introduced later in the summer, prior to scheduled shifts. As well, all onsite volunteers will be required to be fully vaccinated when volunteer programs are reintroduced and students, absent of documented medical reasons, will require vaccines.

If the vaccination rate among staff, physicians and midwives doesn’t reach 95 per cent by September 30, 2021, vaccines will be mandatory.

Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance, August 11, 2021

National survey finds physicians plan to continue services after pandemic Physicians are embracing virtual care, with a majority planning to continue virtual consults after the pandemic, according to a recent survey of Canadian physicians.

Conducted this spring by Canada Health Infoway and the Canadian Medical Association, the study aimed to better understand the use of digital health and information technology among physicians in Canada. More than 2,000 physicians were surveyed, with 94 per cent reporting that they currently provide virtual care. Nearly all of the doctors, which included 1,000 general practitioners, 973 specialists and 98 residents, offer telephone consultations, 51 per cent offer video and 36 per cent secure email/messaging.

Despite this shift, numerous barriers remain. Eighty percent of physicians reported virtually examining patients as their greatest challenge. Physicians also reported other difficulties, including balancing in-person visits with virtual care, technological limitations and patients’ preference for in-person care. But even with these challenges, physicians reported being generally satisfied with virtual care options, in particular telephone and video. Two-thirds of physicians using video visits said they would like to provide more video care.

Canadian Medical Association, August 12, 2021

Page 6 of 12 Mandatory vaccination announced for federal workforce and transportation sector The Government of Canada announced its intent to require vaccination as early as the end of September across the federal public service. Further, the federal government expects that Crown corporations and other employers in the federally regulated sector will also require vaccination for their employees.

In addition, as soon as possible in the fall and no later than the end of October 2021, the Government of Canada will require employees in the federally regulated air, rail, and marine transportation sectors to be vaccinated. The vaccination requirement will also extend to certain travellers. This includes all commercial air travellers, passengers on interprovincial trains, and passengers on large marine vessels with overnight accommodations, such as cruise ships.

Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, August 13, 2021

Ontario makes COVID-19 vaccination policies mandatory for high-risk settings In response to evolving data around the transmissibility of the Delta variant, the Ontario government has issued a directive mandating hospitals and home and community care service providers to have a COVID-19 vaccination policy for employees, staff, contractors, students and volunteers, and for ambulance services to have a COVID-19 vaccination policy for paramedics.

The vaccination policy must be effective no later than September 7, 2021, and at a minimum will require these individuals to provide proof of one of three things: • Full vaccination against COVID-19 • A medical reason for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 • Completion of a COVID-19 vaccination educational session.

Individuals who do not provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will be required to undertake regular antigen testing.

The government also announced it is providing third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable populations, expanding eligibility for the Pfizer vaccine to children born in 2009 or earlier, and pausing the province’s exit from the Roadmap to Reopen.

Ministry of Health, August 17, 2021

New Deputy Minister of Health announced Dr. Catherine Zahn is the new Deputy Minister of Health for Ontario, effective September 7, 2021. Currently President and CEO of the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH), Dr. Zahn began her tenure at CAMH in 2009 and has led transformational change at the hospital and throughout the mental health system during this time.

Canadian Healthcare Technology, August 18, 2021

Drop in COVID-19 vaccine efficacy against Delta seen in U.S. nursing homes The effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines for people in American nursing homes and long-term care facilities, where residents are often elderly and frail, has dropped since the Delta variant became dominant in the United States, government researchers have said.

Despite this decline, the vaccines are still highly effective at preventing illness severe enough to require hospitalization, according to research published in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

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CDC researchers compared weekly data from 3,862 nursing homes and long-term care facilities spanning March 1 to May 9, 2021, before Delta became widespread, to data from 14,917 such facilities covering June 21 to August 9, 2021, when the variant was responsible for the majority of new infections. They found that efficacy of the two-dose vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna for preventing any coronavirus infection – mild or severe – dropped from 74.7 per cent to 53.1 per cent. Effectiveness estimates were similar for the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines, they said.

Meanwhile, a British public health study looked at protection from Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccine against the Delta variant. Based on more than three million nose and throat swabs taken across Britain, that study found that protection wanes within three months.

CTV News, August 18, 2021

Ontario’s doctors report increased burnout, propose five solutions Almost three-quarters (72.9 per cent) of physicians surveyed by the Ontario Medical Association (OMA) said they experienced some level of burnout in 2021, up from 66 per cent the previous year.

Just over one-third (34.6 per cent) reported either persistent symptoms of burnout or feeling completely burned out in 2021, up from 29 per cent in 2020.

A sweeping new report released by the OMA found many causes of burnout. Topping the list were technology and the fact that many physicians spend more time completing required documentation than caring for patients. The report includes five solutions to address burnout, starting with reducing and streamlining documentation. The other top solutions are: • More work-life balance through flexible work arrangements • Making digital health tools a seamless part of physicians’ workflow, including ensuring different systems can speak to each other • Support for physician wellness at their workplaces • Fair and equitable compensation for all work, including administrative work that cannot be reduced

Ontario Medical Association, August 18, 2021

Nearly 95,000 COVID-19 cases reported among health care workers in Canada More than 90,000 health care workers in Canada have been infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to the most recent data released by Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). While the data does not distinguish where the infection was acquired, it does provide an understanding of the degree of impact, which is critical in maintaining levels of care and responding to potential surges of need.

The latest figures are as of June 15, 202. Key findings include: • Since January 2021, the number of COVID-19 infections in Canadian health care workers has increased from 65,920 to 94,873 (as of June 15, 2021). • While the number of cases in health care workers increased, growth continued to be slower when compared with growth in cases in non–health care workers. As a result, the share of cases in health care workers fell from 9.5 per cent to 6.8 per cent. • Since the start of the pandemic, 43 health care workers have died from COVID-19 (as of June 15, 2021).

Page 8 of 12 • Canada’s proportion of health care workers as a share of its total COVID-19 cases is larger than that in France, Germany and the United States (as of May/June 2021). • Based on data from Ontario, Manitoba and British Columbia, personal support workers (PSWs) have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 compared with physicians (3.3 times greater for PSWs) and nurses (1.8 times greater).

Canadian Institute for Health Information, August 19, 2021

University Health Network plans to fire employees who don’t get vaccinated In a statement on August 20, 2021, the University Health Network (UHN) said they contacted more than 900 staff who have either not provided vaccination status or said they haven’t been vaccinated. They were told they should have their first shot by September 8, 2021, which allows for a second shot by October 8, 2021.

“After October 8, if they are not vaccinated, they will be placed on unpaid leave for two weeks,” the statement said. If their decision at the end of two weeks is still not be vaccinated, “their employment at UHN will end.”

Up until recently, UHN had a pilot program in place that had employees getting tested at home three times per week, but it was decided that a vaccine mandate would be implemented, the statement said.

Global News, August 21, 2021

Study finds probability of large pandemics increasing rapidly Large pandemics like COVID-19 are statistically more likely than originally thought, suggests a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal by researchers at Duke University. The study, titled Intensity and frequency of extreme novel epidemics, analyzed novel disease outbreaks over the past 400 years to estimate the intensity of the events and the yearly probability of them recurring. Researchers found that the probability of a pandemic with similar impact of COVID-19 is about two per cent in any given year – meaning that a person born in the year 2000 had approximately a 38 per cent chance of experiencing one by now.

The study also shows the rate of risk for intense outbreaks is increasing rapidly. Based on the growing rate of novel pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 having emerged in human populations in the past 50 years, the study estimates the probability of novel disease outbreaks will likely grow three-fold in the next few decades.

CTV News, August 24, 2021

Ontario deploying last mile strategy to further increase vaccination rates As part of Ontario’s “last mile strategy” to reach eligible individuals who have yet to receive a first or second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the province and public health units are focusing on smaller, community-based and easy-to-access settings for vaccinations. This includes mobile clinics and community-based pop-ups, dedicated clinic days for families with people with disabilities, and townhall meetings in multiple languages. In addition, the province is working with public health units to target areas with low vaccination rates to support localized vaccination strategies as well as targeted marketing by the province in these areas.

Ontario Health, August 24, 2021

Page 9 of 12 Study finds ‘herd immunity' no longer possible without vaccinating young children Due to the increased transmissibility and partial vaccine escape ability of the Delta variant now dominant in Ontario and much of the world, a report by Public Health Ontario says the percentage of the population requiring vaccination to hit a point where virus transmission enters long-term decline now exceeds the number of people actually medically eligible for vaccination at this time.

“The critical threshold for vaccination is now estimated to be at least 90 per cent of the Ontario population, and over 100 per cent of the vaccine-eligible population,” Public Health Ontario says.

The original target vaccination rate called for to fully exit Ontario’s reopening plan was 75 per cent of people over 12 fully vaccinated, 80 per cent with at least one dose and no region with less than 70 per cent fully vaccinated. Public Health Ontario says this vaccination target was developed against the characteristics of the Alpha B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, which Ontario research now suggests was far less deadly than Delta. The previous targets are now not strong enough and the continued arrival of foreign travellers to the province “challenges the applicability of herd immunity concepts to the current context,” says Public Health Ontario.

CTV News, August 25, 2021

Canadian private long-term care providers announce COVID-19 vaccine mandate for staff Long-term care operators of Chartwell Retirement Residences, Extendicare, Responsive Group Inc., Revera Inc. and Sienna Senior Living will require all staff to be vaccinated against COVID- 19 this fall. In a joint statement, the group says employees who aren't fully vaccinated by October 12, 2021, will be placed on an unpaid leave of absence. Vaccination will also be required for new hires, students and other personnel working with the companies.

The policy, they say, will increase the level of safety of residents and improve quality of life by reducing the need for isolation and disruption of daily activities that result from outbreak restrictions.

The home operators say they don't expect the new policy to impact staffing levels.

CBC News, August 26, 2021

Western strengthens COVID-19 vaccine policy Western University and its affiliated university colleges, Brescia, Huron and King’s are strengthening their COVID-19 vaccination policy by eliminating the option for regular testing except under rare exemptions. Only those with a medical or Ontario Human Rights Code exemption will be eligible for the regular, twice-a-week testing in order to be physically on campus this fall. There is no longer a testing option for those who simply choose not to be vaccinated.

The enhanced policy, which takes effect September 7, 2021, applies to all students, faculty, staff and visitors to campus. It follows a recent Council of Ontario Medical Officers of Health letter strongly recommending mandatory vaccinations in all post-secondary institutions in the province.

Western News, August 25, 2021

Page 10 of 12 Ombudsman Ontario releases second COVID-19 special report Ontario's Patient Ombudsman released a special report, Honouring Voices & Experiences: Reflections from waves 2 and 3 of the pandemic. This report is one of two special COVID-19 reports. The first report, issued in October 2020, focused exclusively on long-term care, while the second is broadly focused on the entire health system. It provides an overview of complaints the Patient Ombudsman heard related to COVID-19 from July 2020 through the end of April 2021. In that time, 2,922 complaints were received involving 3,097 health sector organizations.

Of the total complaints, 1,740 were about public hospitals: • 527 complaints (30 per cent) were directly related to the COVID-19 pandemic • Of the other complaints (1,213 complaints in total), it is probable that the pandemic had impacted the patients’ experiences in some way or another. • The peak in COVID-19 related complaints to the Patient Ombudsman about hospitals occurred in March 2021. • The top three complaints about public hospitals were related to: visitation; communication breakdown; and quality of care

Among the Patient Ombudsman’s recommendations are that essential caregivers be defined and provided a role in legislation, and that the government legislate a right to visit for patients in public hospitals and residents in long-term care homes with a forum to appeal restrictions that are put in place.

Ombudsman Ontario, August 2021

Delta variant doubles risk of COVID-19 hospitalization for unvaccinated, study suggests A new study out of the U.K. suggests the Delta variant doubles the risk of COVID-19 hospitalization for unvaccinated and partially vaccinated people compared to the Alpha variant. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, examined more than 40,000 cases of COVID-19 in England between March 29 and May 23 2021, including vaccination status, emergency care attendance, hospital admission and other demographic characteristics. In all cases included in the study, samples of the virus taken from patients underwent whole genome sequencing to confirm which variant they had contracted

The study suggests that not only do people infected with the Delta variant have approximately double the risk of hospitalization compared to the Alpha variant, but that the risk of needing emergency care or hospital admittance within 14 days of infection with the Delta variant was also one-and-a-half times greater compared to the Alpha variant.

It’s the first to report hospitalization risk for Delta versus Alpha variants based on cases confirmed by whole-genome sequencing, says the researchers.

CTV News, August 27, 2021

London Health Sciences Centre makes vaccines mandatory for all staff On August 31, 2021, London Health Sciences Centre (LSHC) announced a mandatory COVID- 19 vaccination policy for all physicians, staff, volunteers, learners, contractors and cross- appointed personnel and others.

This policy, says LHSC, aligns with that of peer hospital organizations and mandates that everyone must complete both doses and the 14-day waiting period no later than October 22,

Page 11 of 12 2021. It builds on the organization’s other protective measures like mandatory education and testing.

London Health Sciences Centre, August 31 2021

St. Joseph’s in the News

COVID shots a must for students at London hospitals, but not for staff, London Free Press, August 9, 2021

'Thin talent pool': Search for new London hospital boss won't be easy, London Free Press, August 11, 2021

COVID-19: What you need to know for August 10, TVO, August 10, 2021

Scientists genetically engineered prehistoric proteins to detect diseases, Popular Science, August 16, 2021

COVID-19: Middlesex London 58 new cases 1 death since Friday, Global News, August 16, 2021

Local groups detail pilot to minimize police-led responses to mental health, addiction calls, Global News/980 CFPL, August 26, 2021

A pilot project aims to keep police from mental-health calls. It's working, London Free Press, August 27, 2021

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