(Queen’s Park) – More hospitals are being forced to fire nurses, eliminate beds and cut patient services. In the last six days, three more hospitals have announced staff layoffs and service cuts. Hospital deficits are a province-wide health crisis. Here are some recent examples…

Cambridge Memorial Hospital will eliminate 30 jobs and reduce access to surgery and diagnostic tests. Cambridge has a projected $6 million deficit.

St. Mary’s Hospital will close 10 rehabilitation beds, three outpatient clinics and eliminate 17 full-time jobs. St. Mary’s has a $2.8 million deficit.

Kingston General Hospital (KGH) will cut 157 full-time positions and eliminate 20 beds. KGH has a $12 million deficit.

More hospitals are already projecting deficits next year…

“The government’s response to this crisis has been totally inadequate. This government is reducing funding and the quality of care for the sickest of the sick,” said Elizabeth Witmer, PC Health Critic. “The McGuinty government has had five years to develop a plan to address growing hospital volumes and protect patients’ needs. The quality of patient care will continue to be reduced as hospitals across the province are forced to cut even more jobs, beds and services,” added Witmer.

Premier McGuinty promised to protect Ontarians’ health services and nursing positions. Here’s Premier McGuinty in his own words…

“We will not cut public services for our families.” – April 7, 2008

Ontario’s population is aging; Ontarian’s have greater complex care needs than 10 years ago. Ontario’s hospitals are running at 100% occupancy. Hospitals are not being funded based on the volume of work they do, nor the size of the communities they service. Current increases in provincial funding of 2.4% this year and 2.1% next year are not enough to meet rising costs of 4 to 5% due to increasing volumes of work and costs such as salaries for doctors and nurses, heat and hydro.

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For further information contact:
Elizabeth Witmer, MPP
(416) 325-1306