In recent months, several hospitals in Ontario have announced job cuts as they try to recover from financial difficulties, a scenario that critics believe will continue happening.
Even though the government provided a $1.1-billion funding increase this year, the Ontario Hospital Association indicated that hospitals needed more than twice that amount. Over 70 percent of hospitals are predicting deficits, with some dipping into their reserves for operating expenses.
The latest announcement of job cuts came earlier this month from The Ottawa Hospital, which stated it has already offered early retirement options, eliminated vacant roles, frozen travel plans, and implemented a “more economical” benefits program to tackle its financial issues.
“Despite all of this, regrettably there will still be some reductions to job positions in the coming months,” the hospital wrote in a statement.
“These reductions amount to three per cent of our overall workforce; however through vacancy management and early retirement options, we will work to limit any involuntary departures.”
Last year, the Ministry of Health instructed hospitals to create three-year plans aimed at balancing their budgets. Any immediate “low risk” savings strategies were meant to be enacted right away while “high risk” proposals would be discussed at regional and provincial planning meetings.
Job loss through attrition affects care,
NDP critic France Gelinas commented that even if job losses occur only through attrition,
patients will still feel those effects.
</P “Every time you lose a nurse, a physiotherapist, a occupational therapist, a (personal support worker).. a lab tech-every time you lose someone, it affects care,” she explained.
</P The president of Ontario Nurses’ Association Erin Ariss stated nurses face most burdens from these hospital cuts.
</P “When (hospitals) seek further efficiencies, their first move is often towards nurses as they see them as liabilities,” she remarked.
</P “They’re treating nurses like commodities instead of skilled professionals who provide critical care for complex patients throughout Ontario.”
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‘Change is always hard,’ health minister says
Health Minister Sylvia Jones mentioned that the budget balancing process has been progressing positively. “Change is always hard,” she said in a recent interview. “But when I look at some of the leadership that has come out of organizations like Ottawa, like London, where they are able to clearly articulate the reason for the change and why we are doing it. As long as the focus is on front-line patient care, I think that we are going in the right direction.” Health Minister Sylvia Jones, pictured here, says the budget balancing exercise has been going well. (Tijana Martin/ ) The London Health Sciences Centre is cutting nursing positions so it can align staffing levels with similar hospitals. Local reports estimate more than 200 positions will be affected over three years through attrition. Chatham-Kent Health Alliance aims to eliminate its deficit and recently declared it will cut 49 positions; half of these cuts will come from reducing its float staff pool. This will mostly happen by not filling open roles. “Like many Ontario hospitals, CKHA is facing financial and operational pressures resulting from rising costs, an aging population, increasing complexity of care as well as aging infrastructure and equipment,” the hospital stated in a release. “Hospitals across the province facing similar challenges also expect deficits and dwindling working capital. Given this context, hospitals plan for reduced spending while ensuring safe and high-quality care.” The CKHA cuts would have occurred amid its multi-year financial recovery strategy regardless of whether or not the government mandated budget balancing measures.Hospitals ‘squeezed far too long,’ Liberal critic says
Liberal hospital critic Lee Fairclough noted that Ottawa, London and Chatham won’t be alone when making tough decisions.</P “I think that what we’ve been seeing build up in hospitals is now becoming reality,” said Fairclough, who previously served as a hospital president.</P The government spent about $29 million on a private plane for Premier Doug Ford’s use; Fairclough pointed out this could fund a year’s salary for at least 300 nurses.</P “It’s about priorities with this government; they’ve squeezed the system for far too long.”</P A spokesperson for Jones mentioned that changes being made by hospitals under their three-year balanced budget plan “are not expected to impact patient care or access to services.”</P “As we modernize and strengthen hospital care, hospitals must plan for long-term stability so people across Ontario can continue accessing high-quality care close to home for years ahead,” Ema Popovic wrote.</PJob loss through attrition affects care,
NDP critic says
NDP critic France Gelinas commented that even if job losses occur only through attrition,patients will still feel those effects.
</P “Every time you lose a nurse, a physiotherapist, a occupational therapist, a (personal support worker).. a lab tech-every time you lose someone, it affects care,” she explained.
</P The president of Ontario Nurses’ Association Erin Ariss stated nurses face most burdens from these hospital cuts.
</P “When (hospitals) seek further efficiencies, their first move is often towards nurses as they see them as liabilities,” she remarked.
</P “They’re treating nurses like commodities instead of skilled professionals who provide critical care for complex patients throughout Ontario.”
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