As Ontario’s health system has come under serious strain, health authorities–from the Health Ministry to overburdened hospitals–have encouraged Ontarians to turn to Health811, a service where they can get free, 24/7 health advice from a nurse by phone or online. But reporting by The Local magazine found average monthly wait times to speak with a Health811 nurse were as high as 11 hours, raising questions about the service’s utility and patient outcomes.
Speakers
Wency Leung
Wency Leung is a senior reporter for The Local, an award-winning independent news magazine focusing on the Greater Toronto Area.