(Queen’s Park) – The McGuinty government does not have a plan to address hospital deficits and protect patient services.
During Question Period today, the McGuinty government was asked how the government intends to protect hospital services for patients and tackle growing deficits. Unfortunately, Ontario’s Minister of Health REFUSED to answer the question.
Each day more hospitals are announcing that they will have to fire nurses, eliminate beds and cut patient services to balance their budgets. In the last nine days, four more hospitals have announced staff layoffs and service cuts. Hospital deficits are a province-wide health crisis. Here are some recent examples…
- Grey Bruce Health Services (GBHS) officials haven’t ruled out rural closures and job cuts to balance its deficit. GBHS has a $2.5 million deficit.
- Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital will chop 25 jobs and eliminate services such as its outpatient physiotherapy program. Joseph Brant has a $5.5 million deficit.
- Cambridge Memorial Hospital will eliminate 30 jobs and reduce access to surgery and diagnostic tests. Cambridge has a projected $6 million deficit.
- Kingston General Hospital (KGH) will cut 157 full-time positions and eliminate 20 beds. KGH has a $12 million deficit.
“The government has yet to reveal a strategy to protect patient services, to prevent nurses from being fired and to address growing hospital deficits. The McGuinty government is watching the erosion of Ontario’s hospital services from the sideline,” 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. It’s time for action, it’s time for a plan that acknowledges the needs of Ontario’s growing communities and our aging population.” added Witmer.
Ontario’s population is aging; Ontarians’ 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