TORONTO - Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory is calling on the province to take the C. difficile outbreak that's lead to 120 deaths at Ontario hospitals more seriously.
In a letter to Premier Dalton McGuinty Thursday, Tory called on the government to launch an independent investigation into the outbreak to determined what's happened, why it's happened, and where it's happened.
He suggests an initial report should be submitted within 30 days, followed by a final report within 90 days.
But Health Minister George Smitherman says the government is dealing with the situation.
He says the province is already implementing the recommendations that came out of a coroner's inquest into the deadly outbreak in Sault Ste. Marie.
He says the ministry has hired two infectious control officials at an area hospital and initiated a province-wide hand hygiene initiative.
He adds the province is also moving towards mandatory reporting of the hospital-borne illness.
