Opposition calls for review of privacy breach at care home

P.E.I. Opposition health critic James Aylward wants to know what Health PEI has done in the wake of an investigation at a seniors care facility in O'Leary that found a staff member took "inappropriate and degrading" photos of residents and shared them with staff using Snapchat.

• P.E.I. care home employee fired after photo of deceased resident shared on Snapchat

A worker at the government-run facility was fired after someone at the home took a photo of a resident who had died, and shared it over the social media app Snapchat.

The investigation found staff were regularly using their phones to take pictures in the facility, even though in doing so they were contravening Health PEI policy.

On Tuesday Aylward asked the legislature's health committee to call witnesses from Health PEI to find out what the agency's done to prevent similar breaches in the future.

"I think that we owe it to all Islanders to ensure that, particularly our seniors, when they're going into these seniors' facilities that they are safe, they are protected," he said.

Aylward presented a list of witnesses he wanted to call, including the administrator of the Margaret Stewart Ellis Home, where the breach occurred, as well as the CEO of Health PEI Michael Mayne.

"It's just to find out how the investigation was conducted, who actually conducted the investigation, and why Health PEI hasn't found it necessary to adhere to some of the recommendations put forth in that investigation," Aylward said.

No need to change operations manual: Health PEI

One of the recommendations from the investigation report, obtained by CBC News by a Freedom of Information request, was that Health PEI revise its operation standards manual for long-term care with regards to cell phone usage for staff. But a spokesperson for Health PEI told CBC News the agency reviewed the manual and decided no change was necessary. Health PEI did take steps to try to ensure staff are aware of existing policies around cell phone usage.

It's not clear if the committee will look into the privacy breach. After Aylward made his request the meeting moved in camera, meaning the media and the public were no longer allowed to observe the proceedings.

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