Ontario hospitals urge Doug Ford to clearly state when medical supplies will be replenished

Hospitals are telling Premier Doug Ford it's time to walk the talk on providing masks and other protective gear to doctors and nurses battling severe shortages on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis.

The rare plea from the Ontario Hospital Association came Wednesday as Ford said "deliveries are happening every single day" and talked of several deals being made with suppliers, including the purchase of ventilators in small batches of five or 10 wherever they can be found.

"The OHA is extremely concerned that many Ontario hospitals are running low on PPE (personal protective equipment), particularly masks," the organization representing the province's 141 public hospitals said Wednesday.

"Today, we're calling on the government to clearly and specifically inform hospitals on when new supplies will be delivered."

Hospital association president Anthony Dale reinforced the demand on Twitter as nurses, doctors and other health-care workers dealing with potential COVID-19 patients complain of being rationed to two masks a day - a situation they consider dangerous because of a higher risk of infection.

"Clear information is needed now to support contingency planning for all scenarios, especially over the short term," Dale said, acknowledging hospitals are conserving masks to safeguard the supply at the direction of Ontario's chief medical officer.

Many nurses have contacted the Star in frustration and fear amid the latest Ontario Ministry of Health statistics showing at least 229 health-care workers have contracted COVID-19 to date.

"It is nice that everyone is talking about how much ordering there is of PPE, but when the hell is it going to be shipped and arrived at hospitals?" asked one.

Another who contacted the Star's Bruce Arthur said "I'm risking my life, my family life, my community, and all you value me is two masks in a brown paper bag?"

Ford announced Wednesday a $50 million fund to help provincial manufacturers retool their production lines to make medical supplies, and has repeatedly expressed concerns about front-line health workers.

"There's very little separating what we will face here in Ontario from the devastation we've seen in Italy and Spain," he said, a reference to hundreds dying daily in overwhelmed hospitals in those countries.

Rob Ferguson is a Toronto-based reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robferguson1