TORONTO — Ontario’s patient ombudsman has died in an accident, the government agency has confirmed.
Cathy Fooks assumed her role on July 13, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The office of the patient ombudsman announced her death on Thursday, offering condolences to her family.
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The patient ombudsman supports Ontarians who have voiced concerns about their health-care experience.
It also investigates and makes recommendations on unresolved complaints about public hospitals and long-term care homes.
A statement from the organization said that Fooks was “a forward-thinking leader” in Ontario’s health-care sector.
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Before becoming the province’s patient ombudsman, Fooks was the president and CEO of The Change Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to improving the patient and caregiver experience in Ontario.
In 2018 she was a special advisor to the Ontario Ministry of Health to assist with the setup of the Ontario Caregiver Organization.