Almost 30 personal support workers have lost their jobs at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital.
Jun 02, 2026 •
Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital (Postmedia file photo) Photo by File Photo
The jobs of nearly 30 personal support workers at the Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital have been eliminated.
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
The union representing these workers, Unifor, recently expressed its “deep concern” over the “ongoing trend of restructuring occurring in hospitals throughout Ontario” following the loss of 27 positions at this Oxford County facility.
“While the employer has indicated plans to hire more registered practical nurses (RPNs), these additions do not come close to offsetting the loss of PSWs,” the release said. “PSWs are crucial to quality patient care and provide essential, hands-on support to ensure the dignity, safety and quality of life for patients every single day.”
Teresa Armstrong, MPP for London-Fanshawe, criticized the Ministry of Health’s decision, which occurred just two weeks after London Health Sciences Centre cut 288 nursing jobs.
“If (Minister of Health Sylvia Jones) thinks that patient care won’t be affected by these losses, she needs to work one shift at a London hospital and experience the workload hospital staff have been handed by her ministry,” Armstrong wrote.
This has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
“Frontline social services workers perform some of the most important and most challenging jobs, supporting our most vulnerable. Yet, despite their importance, they are being asked to do more with less.”
Tillsonburg Mayor Deb Gilvesy shared her sadness about this development.
“I am thinking of the workers and their families,” she added. “While these decisions fall under the authority of the hospital and its board, which are governed by the provincial health-care system, I would like to thank them for their service to the community.”
Before becoming a councillor for Tillsonburg, Kelly Spencer was a registered nurse while her father Jim was president and CEO of the hospital from 1977 until 2000.
“My heart goes out to the PSWs affected by this decision,” Spencer said. “Having been a registered nurse, I know how valuable PSWs are in providing compassionate care and comfort for patients and families every day. At the same time, I understand that hospitals need to adjust staffing as patient needs grow more complex.”
This has not loaded yet , but your article continues below.
Spencer noted several factors driving change in healthcare; people are living longer while certain procedures that used to require long hospital stays are now done much more quickly.
Source link
“The patients occupying hospital beds today often require more frequent assessments , complex interventions , and a higher level of clinical care,” she added. “PSWs remain highly needed in Tillsonburg with new people Care long-term care facilities opening up along with home-care services.”
Unifor has stated it will back those affected and “push back against decisions that undermine both workers and Ontario’s health care system.” Share this article in your social networkSource link
