Promoting Fairness for British Columbians

 

For immediate release
Office of the Ombudsman

 

May 1, 2002                                       

 

PR02-003                                          

 

OMBUDSMAN WILL INVESTIGATE RESIDENTIAL CARE COMPLAINTS

 

VICTORIA – British Columbia’s Ombudsman, Howard Kushner, will accept complaints from people who say they face being moved from residential care facilities without a fair process as a result of the government’s recent changes to residential care.

 

“When government decides to move a person from their home in a facility, the process must be fair,” Kushner said today. “I would expect there to be consultation with individuals and their families. Consultation should include a reasonable opportunity to respond to the change and to consider the alternatives.”

 

Affected people or their families can contact the Office of the Ombudsman at 1-800-567-3247. Kushner’s office also maintains a Web site at www.ombudsman.bc.ca, with an online complaint form and full information about the office and its mandate.

 

Kushner emphasized that he will not investigate complaints about the closure of facilities, or about fiscal decisions made by health authorities.

 

“This office does not have a mandate to decide how government should allocate resources,” Kushner said. “We’re here to ensure that people are treated fairly when these decisions go into effect.”

 

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This news release is online at www.ombudsman.bc.ca.

 

Contact:

 

Linda Carlson

Office of the Ombudsman

Victoria 250 387-0189