Bill 216 2009

An Act to amend the Public Hospitals Act to require the provision of information sheets to patients

Note: This Act amends the Public Hospitals Act.  For the legislative history of the Act, see the Table of Consolidated Public Statutes – Detailed Legislative History at www.e-Laws.gov.on.ca.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  The Public Hospitals Act is amended by adding the following section:

Information sheet to be given to patients

   7.1  The administrator of a hospital shall ensure that, upon being received in a hospital, each patient is given an information sheet setting out the following:

    1.  Information regarding services available at the hospital, including,

            i.  the role of the patient's advocate at the hospital and his or her contact information,

           ii.  how a complaint regarding services provided at the hospital may be addressed,

          iii.  the role of the Community Care Access Centre representative at the hospital and his or her contact information,

          iv.  assistance available for patients with special needs for transportation to and from the hospital, and

           v.  financial and legal assistance available to patients with lower incomes.

    2.  Information regarding services available in the community, including,

            i.  the role of Community Care Access Centres and contact information for the closest centre,

           ii.  a list of community based organizations that provide health and other support services, and

          iii.  providers of health care services after regular business hours, including walk-in clinics.

    3.  Information regarding health care options available to all Ontarians, including services offered by,

            i.  Telehealth Ontario, and

           ii.  Health Care Connect.

Commencement

   2.  This Act comes into force six months after the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   3.  The short title of this Act is the Public Hospitals Amendment Act, 2009.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Public Hospitals Act to require the administrator of a hospital to ensure that each patient received at the hospital is given an information sheet setting out information regarding services available at the hospital, services available in the community and other health care options.