Southwestern Ontario’s largest hospital network plans to eliminate over 200 registered nurse (RN) roles through attrition in the next three to five years.
The supervisor of London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) states that these cuts are part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at aligning staffing and expenses with other hospitals in Ontario.
The province’s nursing union, along with health care advocates, is cautioning that this move could adversely affect patient care and further burden frontline staff who are already overwhelmed.
About 212 full-time RN positions will be phased out due to retirements or voluntary departures during this restructuring phase, while LHSC will also hire 108 registered practical nurses (RPN) in that same timeframe, according to hospital supervisor David Musyj.
“They are not being laid off, so the staff that are here can continue to work here until they resign or retire,” he explained.
Musyj elaborated that the decision came after a benchmarking process initiated in 2024 where the hospital network evaluated its staffing and operations against other hospitals. He noted it’s a standard practice that identifies strengths and areas needing improvement. LHSC compared itself with 15 peer hospital networks throughout Ontario.
According to the Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario, RNs can manage patients with more complex needs in unpredictable situations, while RPNs have less extensive training and focus on patients with simpler needs and stable conditions. Typically, RNs earn about $20,000 more than RPNs.
Since 2019, LHSC has seen clinical staffing increase by 23 percent; however, inpatient numbers have only grown by 4.5 percent and outpatient requirements by 11 percent, as stated by Musyj.
LHSC’s supervisor David Musyj mentioned that staffing levels have surpassed patient volumes and the job reductions through attrition aim to align them better. (Alex Brockman/CBC)
“There’s a difference between growing staff but at the same time your [patient] volumes are growing nowhere near that,” he said. “So as a result, that just shows the disconnect and unfortunately that’s leading to the operating deficit.”
LHSC has been grappling with an expanding budget deficit of $150 million since 2024. Although final figures are anticipated in June, Musyj indicated this year’s operating deficit has dropped to slightly over $130 million.
“While the employer claims this is part of a benchmarking exercise to align with similarly sized academic hospitals, ONA believes it is just another way for management to cut corners on patient care for financial savings.” Peter Bergmanis from London’s chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition remarked that future years will likely see an increased demand for frontline hospital workers in areas like London which have large populations needing care.
“If we’ve actually had frontline staffing increases it would have addressed some of those numbers being cited so I’m not sure where those figures come from but they’re certainly not coming from those on the front lines,” Bergmanis stated.
“You can throw out any kind of statistics you want but there isn’t anyone in this city who’s ever said ‘Oh boy! LHSC is doing more for less.’ This situation is simply outrageous.” The nursing association pointed out these cuts occur when public confidence in hospital leadership is at its lowest point ever-referring specifically to two civil lawsuits filed against several former senior administrators linked to an alleged $60 million fraud scheme.![]()
LHSCH says they determined job impacts through a benchmarking evaluation comparing operational performance across different hospitals (Alessio Donnini/CBC)
The individuals implicated include past executives such as former CEO , previous director facilities managers along others. All accused parties deny wrongdoing having filed statements defenses thus far -this matter remains unproven legally speaking.
“It’s unacceptable for an institution like LHSC -which caters thousands acute patients-to reduce its registered nursing workforce providing essential front-line support while investigating prior leaders suspected embezzling funds,” Erin Ariss , ONA provincial president commented.
According Msyuj budget alterations unrelated ongoing litigations fraud accusations.
Msyuj added they’ll keep evaluating both staffing patient metrics adjusting policies accordingly. Changes implemented now differ greatly compared prior management took reins back ’24 axing third upper echelon executive roles immediately following arrival status quo.”We’ve made considerable headway toward positive outcomes without compromising quality overall,”he remarked.
Ariss also noted affiliations belong together alongside Ontarian Hospital Association requested four percent funding boosts sustain operational capacity within facilities recently approved provincial budget last week leaving facility “no justification” proceed cutting jobs further he emphasized.”
This continues advocacy efforts urging province institute mandatory safe ratios ensure accountable practices amongst healthcare employers face challenges understaffed conditions present lots issues influencing safety standards pressures forthcoming trends.”
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Nursing Reductions Will Strain Healthcare System
The confirmation of these adjustments follows a news release from the Ontario Nurses’ Association regarding the cuts. The union stated that LHSC is eliminating 288 RN positions across various departments including pediatric care, adult ambulatory services, and inpatient units. Both Musyj and the Ontario Ministry of Health have asserted that this figure provided by ONA is incorrect. Musyj clarified that it includes job reductions from both 2024 plus those expected over the next three years. Musyj along with ministry representatives claimed these reductions won’t compromise patient care. The ONA disagrees strongly. “These cuts will negatively impact patient care and increase already crushing workloads for nurses working hard to provide timely, high-quality care,” said ONA in their release, emphasizing these job losses equate to nearly 563,000 total hours of RN care.“While the employer claims this is part of a benchmarking exercise to align with similarly sized academic hospitals, ONA believes it is just another way for management to cut corners on patient care for financial savings.” Peter Bergmanis from London’s chapter of the Ontario Health Coalition remarked that future years will likely see an increased demand for frontline hospital workers in areas like London which have large populations needing care.
“If we’ve actually had frontline staffing increases it would have addressed some of those numbers being cited so I’m not sure where those figures come from but they’re certainly not coming from those on the front lines,” Bergmanis stated.
“You can throw out any kind of statistics you want but there isn’t anyone in this city who’s ever said ‘Oh boy! LHSC is doing more for less.’ This situation is simply outrageous.” The nursing association pointed out these cuts occur when public confidence in hospital leadership is at its lowest point ever-referring specifically to two civil lawsuits filed against several former senior administrators linked to an alleged $60 million fraud scheme.
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