November 17,
2016
NEWS RELEASE
Canadian Association of Occupational
Therapists-BC Chapter (CAOT-BC) applauds direction of the BC Report on the Budget 2017 Consultations
BC’s occupational therapy community welcomes the recommendations
of the Report on
the Budget 2017 Consultations. The Report is based on input received through 14 public hearings
and 705 submissions from across the province.
British Columbians told the Select Standing Committee on
Finance and Government Services that health care and education should be among key
priorities as the government prepares its next budget.
Occupational therapists are encouraged by the following
recommendations:
Increase supports available to improve quality of life for
seniors in long-term care, such as dental care and programs that support
mental, physical, spiritual and emotional wellbeing (p.14)
Expand home care programs and services, such as home visits,
meal delivery and community care, to allow
seniors to remain in their homes longer (p. 14)
“The evidence
demonstrates that occupational therapy improves the quality of life for seniors
in long-term care and preventative occupational therapy home visits for people
living at home that are at risk for falls allow those individuals to remain in
their homes longer,” says Giovanna Boniface, CAOT National Director of
Professional Affairs.
CAOT-BC has been
highlighting the value of occupational therapy in our consultations with
government and other key stakeholders over the past 2 years, including a formal
submission to the Select Standing Committee on Health in July 2016.
The Report also made
recommendations on improving advanced education:
Increase funding for programs to address
areas with identified skills gaps in the Workforce (p. 19)
There has been a shortage
of occupational therapists in BC for years. Less than 28%[1] of the new occupational
therapy workforce is actually trained in our province, forcing health
authorities and private health care institutions to recruit from other jurisdictions.
“Relying on the in-migration
supply chain is unstable and unpredictable,” adds Boniface. “Many health
regions in BC, such as Northern Health and Fraser Health, are experiencing
severe shortages. With increasing demand for services in both the public and
private health care sector, the time to train future occupational therapists
here at home is now.”
BC occupational
therapists would like to thank the Select Standing Committee for recognizing
these critical health care and education issues.
CAOT-BC will continue to
advocate for increased access to occupational therapy for the citizens of BC as
well as increase the number of occupational therapists trained in BC.
We look forward to
engaging with members of the legislature to ensure our recommendations are realized
in budget 2017.
CONTACT
Giovanna Boniface, OT, CCLCP
CAOT National Director of
Professional Affairs
Canadian Association of
Occupational Therapists
1-800-434-2268 x265
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