The week of January 26, 2014 included two separate announcements from Ontario’s Minister of Health and Long-Term Care, Deb Matthews. 
On January 27, 2014, Matthews announced that the province will build on the Action Plan for Health Care by providing better support to strengthen recruitment and retention for Personal Support Workers in the home care sector. The announcement marks the two year anniversary of the Action Plan.
Progress made on the plan includes:
- Expanded access to home care for 76,000 seniors
- New legislation and regulations that would increase tobacco-related penalties
- Expanding eligibility for free dental care for 70,000 children
For more information, view the announcement on the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care website.
Then on January 28, 2014, Matthews announced it is joining up with partners to provide help to a half-million people who are at-risk or living with a physical and mental illness.
The assistance will come from a new $60-million initiative called the Medical Psychiatry Alliance. Among its work, the Alliance will ensure physical and mental illnesses are treated simultaneously as well as develop new screening and diagnostic tools to ensure patients are properly diagnosed.
Visit the Ministry website for more information about the announcement.