Health care workers, represented by CUPE, gathered outside the office of local Ontario PC MPP Dave Smith in Peterborough to protest against funding cuts from the provincial government.
The government’s fall economic statement reveals a plan to reduce hospital funding by 10 percent in real terms over three years, leading up to 2027-28, as projected spending fails to meet the six percent annual cost inflation for hospitals, according to CUPE.
The effects of budget cuts are already being felt by both staff and patients in hospitals across Ontario. Hundreds of jobs are being lost in North Bay, Hamilton, Ottawa, Niagara, and the Greater Toronto Area as most hospitals struggle with deficits and are scaling back patient care.
“This government promised to clear surgical waiting lists and to end hallway medicine. 200,000 people are waiting for surgeries, and 73,000 patients are waiting longer than clinically recommended. 2,000 are on hallway stretchers waiting for beds and the government has now announced it will no longer report those numbers,” said Michael Hurley, president of CUPE’s Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU-CUPE), which represents 45,000 health care workers. “The PC funding plan through to 2027-28 will have devastating consequences for many people needing hospital treatment in Ontario.”
In Peterborough, around 115 nurses and PSWs might lose their jobs throughout the health care system by 2027-28 if the government doesn’t increase funding. CUPE estimates that the Peterborough Regional Health Centre could lose approximately 32 staffed beds at a time when staffing levels and capacity should be increasing due to an aging population. These estimates are based on projections from the Financial Accountability Office of Ontario.
“Patients are not receiving the care they deserve in our hospitals,” said Sharon Richer, secretary-treasurer of OCHU-CUPE. “Health care workers are stretched to their limits trying to provide the best care possible, but they need more support in the form of safe staffing levels, manageable workloads, and a properly funded hospital system.”
The union is urging the provincial government to take these actions:
In the short term, add 6,200 staffed beds to get patients off hallway stretchers, accommodate aging populations and clear backlogs for surgeries.
Increase core hospital funding by $3.2 billion to eliminate deficits and hire more staff.
Fund hospitals at their actual costs (six percent per year) with a commitment for multi-year funding.
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Increase core hospital funding by $3.2 billion to eliminate deficits and hire more staff.
Fund hospitals at their actual costs (six percent per year) with a commitment for multi-year funding.
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