Winnipeg Police are investigating spate of COVID-19 deaths at Maples Personal Care Home, Global News has learned
The investigation will determine if residents received adequate care or if there was a failure to provide the basic necessities of life
Winnipeg Police Service homicide investigators speak with paramedics, Maples officials and families of patients, police sources say
By the time the Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service left shortly before 2 a.m. on Saturday, at least two people had died from COVID-19
In the nursing home, seven have died of COVID-19 in the past two days – another person who was near the end of his life has died of natural causes, the Winnipeg regional authority said
However, at least twenty-two patients have died from COVID-19 since the virus entered the personal care home less than two weeks ago
Paramedics, including a district manager, assessed at least 12 COVID-19 positive patients at the nursing home for nearly seven hours – officials from the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority and an executive from the business that owns the home held a press conference on Saturday night after outrage over conditions at the home spilled over to social media
As of Friday evening, around 50 people were on staff at the nursing home, including at least seven registered nurses, 13 orderlies, 15 general laborers and at least 12 security guards
The WRHA said 169 people lived there, as the care home was in the midst of a new coronavirus outbreak
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The facility has recorded a total of 176 cases since the start of the pandemic – 121 patients and 55 staff were infected by Friday
One person was taken to hospital in critical condition on Friday, two others were taken to stable condition, the city of Winnipeg confirmed in an email.
12 other patients were assessed by paramedics and a number of patients were treated on site
A paramedic unit attended to and transported a patient to hospital shortly after 7 a.m. Friday, the city confirmed in an email on Saturday
Two minutes later at 7:12 p.m. another 911 call was received and an ambulance with two paramedics and a district chief of paramedical operations responded and assessed 11 patients, finishing just before 2 am
During this period, the city said, two more ambulances responded and transported two more patients who required hospital treatment
I asked health officials to provide an explanation to MBans today Details of the upcoming public briefing
« People are dying and dropping like flies here and a lot of them just need help with simple chores like eating and bathing and they don’t have the staff to do it, which means ‘they are not being fed and that they are not being bathed and that is putting everyone in a really critical situation, « Lourenco said outside the care home on Saturday
« It’s devastating, it’s devastating, I know people here, my mom is one of them It’s heartbreaking, my heart is breaking for my mom, » she said
WRHA’s long-term care operations chief Gina Trinidad said 20 Red Cross staff will arrive to provide « extra support »
An emergency response team made up of paramedics is also deploying at home It will be available for other personal care homes experiencing epidemics, Trinidad said
On Twitter, Health Minister Cameron Friesen said he was « devastated to learn of the situation at Maples LTC Home today, » adding that at 3:24 p.m.m he had just come out of an urgent meeting with Revera, ministry officials and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority
Opposition leader Wab Kinew released a statement on Saturday saying paramedics should not be supposed to replace failures of the provincial government
« Reports of paramedics providing life-saving care to residents of Maples PCH are shocking and deeply concerning, » he said
« It is high time for the province to step in and take control of PCHs in Maples and Parkview Place Pallister government must step in today to ensure seniors and residents receive the care they need Lives are in play and there is no reason to delay In addition, the province should call on any resource, including the military or the Red Cross, to help these residents to be safe «
WFPS attended Maples PCH last night and City staff have been in contact with WRHA and Shared Health to identify concerns regarding their attention and action Thanks to WFPS staff for their continued efforts
Earlier this week, the Canadian Red Cross was called in to help out at Maples Personal Care Home and Parkview Place – those staff won’t be arriving until Friday
« Initially, health system leaders are working with the Red Cross to assess the capacity to help at Parkview Place and Maples Long Term Care Home, » Friesen said in a statement to Global News Tuesday evening.
« The specific role of the Red Cross is still being finalized and more details will be released in the coming days »
Read more:
Red Cross called to help Winnipeg personal care homes as coronavirus cases rise
Parkview Place long-term care home and Maples personal care home – both run by privately-owned Revera – said they were working with the Red Cross and the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority on a plan « aimed at providing additional personnel resources to support residents with the delivery of meals, recreational activities and support, maintaining isolation in the rooms »
The second hardest-hit long-term care home, Parkview Place, on Friday had 147 total cases, 111 patients and 36 staff, 111 remaining active cases and 23 deaths
Nursing Home, Winnipeg, The Maples, Healthcare
News from the World – CA – Coronavirus: Homicide Unit Investigates Personal Care Home Deaths Maples, after emergency teams are on the scene
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com