Provincial Findings:
Ontario
Most of the hospital staff were compassionate when contacted. However, there were many instances of callers being asked their identity.
Findings uncovered a range of issues related to SAEK accessibility in the province. A few noteworthy findings included a significant number of municipalities with populations over 70,000 people without a single SAEK kit in its boundaries, hospitals routinely referring She Matters volunteers to hospitals which callers later determined also did not have SAEKs, and a number of hospitals with SAEK services wanting kits to be available at all hospitals as those with are bearing the workload of several municipalities. For example She Matters recorded that almost all hospitals surrounding Midland, Simcoe County and the Muskoka Region referred callers to Orillia Soldier’ Memorial Hospital as they have a specialized Sexual Assault Treatment Centre. However upon speaking with Orillia Soldiers' Memorial She Matters learned that given the lack of SAEKs in hospitals in the region Orillia had survivors coming to their facility from significant distances which not only placed strain on the hospitals health-care system but was traumatic for survivors whom had to access care in a City they were unfamiliar with.
She Matters uncovered that larger urban areas such as the GTA have remote sexual assault units however these units often left survivors waiting for long periods. However, She Matter does note that the use of specialized units mean there are trained nurses and doctors attending.
Lastly, coverage in Northern Ontario municipalities was considered good given its large geographic area however given the distance between municipalities there are cases where survivors would have to drive 1-3 hours for access.
39% of hospitals did not have kits.
Longest Distance: Wawa to Sault Ste. Marie (227 kilometres or 2 hours 30 minutes by car, 4 hours by bus)
Total Number of Hospitals: 148
Number of Hospitals with Kits: 91
Number of Hospitals without Kits: 57
Refused to Answer: 0
RCMP Must Bring Kit: 0
