An inquiry into the COVID-19 outbreak at Northwood’s Halifax care facility is underway, but it won’t be public.
Health and Wellness Minister Randy Delorey announced the review today, which will look into whether or not the steps taken to prepare for and respond to COVID-19 infections in the facility were effective, as well as staff scheduling practices and control and prevention practices.
However, despite calls from opposition and some families of the 59 patients who died in Northwood due to COVID-19, the review will be conducted under the Quality-improvement Information Protection Act.
When questioned about the decision, Delorey said the act will limit what aspects of the review and findings are publicized.
“Within the legislation regarding the quality improvement reviews, it has a number of provisions to protect personal health information of people who may be part of the review,” he said.
“As well, it provides… kind of like, whistle blower type protections, so there will be no action taken against individuals who would be providing information to the committee members conducting the review and making the recommendations.”
Aside from protections, Delorey said the act also allows for the reviews to be conducted quickly, and provides the framework necessary to kick off the reviews and assemble the review committee necessary.
Delorey has appointed infectious disease consultant Dr. Chris Lata and former British Columbia associate deputy minister of health Lynn Stevenson to the committee in charge of the review.
They will also launch a separate review into broader infection prevention procedures within the long-term sector.
While there are limitations to the scope of info that can be made public due to the Protection Act, Delorey said the focal point should be the recommendations.
“Those are the recommendations that will lead us to make improvements and changes to our long-term sector,” he said.
“To help us avoid and minimize infection from COVID-19 and potentially other diseases in the future.”
Those recommendations are expected to be delivered to Delorey by Sept. 15th, and will be made public after the review period passes.
Follow Cody McEachern on Twitter at @CodyInHiFi.
