QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Health and Long-Term Care Critic France Gélinas is asking why Personal Support Workers (PSWs), who provide frontline home-based care to frail patients of all ages, are being turned away from H1N1 flu vaccination clinics.

During today’s Question Period, Gélinas asked Health Minister Deb Matthews about Fran Martens, a Windsor PSW who was refused an H1N1 vaccination and told PSW’s are not in the vaccination priority group. Martens bathes, cleans and assists 11 frail and elderly clients each day in their homes.

“PSWs are the back bone of our homecare system; they provide care to people at high risk for H1N1 which means they should be part of the priority list,” Gélinas said.

“But if you search Community Care Access Centre websites, you will not find a single mention that PSWs are on the priority list to receive the vaccine nor is there any message urging PSWs to be vaccinated. This seems to be a glaring omission.”

Gélinas was pleased to hear the Minister say that PSWs are indeed part of the priority list for H1N1 vaccinations. However, Gélinas cannot understand why the Ministry of Health has failed to communicate this fact until now.

“I shake my head and wonder why the Ministry has not properly communicated this to the agencies that provide the vaccination, the PSWs and the agencies responsible to deliver homecare,” Gelinas said. “I don’t think a Minister’s response during Question Period – nearly two weeks into the vaccination campaign – is the best way to communicate who is and who is not a priority.”