One of the unions representing hospital workers says $27 million in cuts to Hamilton hospitals will “seriously undermine an already overstretched hospital system.”
Citing chronic overcrowding and a lack of proper funding, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is reportedly slashing $20 million dollars in costs.
St. Joseph’s Healthcare confirmed it has a funding shortfall of about $7 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
“HHS is operating now at over 110 per cent capacity, which speaks to the need of a 10 per cent budget increase, not a $20 million funding cut,” Dave Murphy, president of CUPE Local 7800, said in a release. The organization represents 4,000 staff at the facility.
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Ontario’s public hospitals received a boost of a minimum of two per cent funding in the most recent budget, and operating funding for hospitals has risen by more than 58 per cent since 2003, according to the provincial government.
The provincial government said Hamilton Health Sciences received $17 million in new funding in this year’s budget, along with $8 million for St. Joseph’s.
St. Joseph’s said that it while appreciates the boost in funding, it’s less than the “pressures” they face due to inflation. The hospital says it’s working with Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant Local Health Integration Network and the Ontario government to address the gap.
“St. Joe’s is committed to providing exemplary care to our patients, fulfilling our mandate in research and health professional training, while working within the funding provided to have a balanced budget each year,” the hospital said in a statement provided Thursday.
In a statement to CHML, Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins said he expects that service to patients will not be impacted by budget decisions.
“I expect LHINs and hospitals to continue to work together and balance budgets in a manner that sustains quality health services for the future,” he said. “Our government is committed to putting patients first, making it easier and faster to access the services they need closer to home.”
The NDP said hospitals are being “shortchanged” and more money is needed to address funding cuts and freezes in previous years.
Monique Taylor, the NDP MPP for Hamilton Mountain, said families are already coping with overcrowding and can’t take any more cuts at hospitals.
“Too many Hamilton families know these heartbreaking frustrations, and with these cuts it’s only going to get worse,” she said in a release.
With files from Kerri Breen
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