Ontario Health atHome CEO fired in wake of home care supply shortage

The CEO of the agency responsible for home care in Ontario has been fired, CBC Toronto has learned.

Cynthia Martineau, formerly the CEO of Ontario Health atHome, was let go after supply problems in the sector persisted for months, leaving people — including palliative patients — without items needed for their care.

Carol Annett, chair of the company's board of directors, sent a note to staff this week confirming that Martineau was leaving. 

"For over three years, Cynthia has led our organization with compassion, dedication and an unwavering commitment to serving patients and their families," Annett wrote. "She has been instrumental in advancing our organizational goals and we are grateful for her many contributions."

Ontario Health atHome confirmed in a statement that Martineau is no longer with the company, adding that officials will "continue to take action to improve the delivery of high-quality, accessible, and connected care."

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health did not respond when asked in an email why Martineau was let go, but a source confirmed to CBC News that she was fired.

Issues rooted in supply contracts

Back in the fall, Ontario Health atHome launched new supply contracts for the delivery of medical items — a move that has resulted in crucial supplies for home care not showing up for some patients when they were supposed to.

Maxine Laing, who works in central ordering for the agency in Halton-Peel, called that change "a disaster" that is still impacting patients.

"Every day that I order supplies is a frustration, because everything is out of stock," she said. "So our patients aren't getting the supplies that they do require for their care."

Impacted items include basic medical products like needles, IV supplies, catheters and wound care kits, she said. Not being able to properly provide those supplies and others to patients is increasing home visits for nurses, emergency room visits, and can also affect safe discharges from hospital, Laing added.

"The providers can't keep up with the demands of our clients," she said.

Opposition leader says government failing Ontarians

Back in the fall, Premier Doug Ford promised he'd fix these problems.

"I can guarantee you I am all over this," Ford said. "This is going to be corrected. And the people, by the way, that have messed this up, they're going to be held accountable."

Opposition NDP Leader Marit Stiles, meanwhile, accused the province of using the spectre of a possible early election to distract from the sorry state of the province's health-care system.

"This is a government that cannot get medicine and medical supplies to sick people. This is the most basic responsibility of a government, and they are failing," she said.

"I'm happy to see somebody taking the fall here, but I actually think it's the government themselves that should have taken responsibility."

According to the staff email, an interim CEO is taking over at Ontario Health atHome with recruitment for a permanent replacement starting in the coming weeks.