Patients and the Dryden Regional Health Centre face a grim future under Conservative budget cuts.
That is coming from Michael Hurley, the President of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions and the Canadian Union of Public Employees.
Hurley says “With a relatively small budget, it’s (the hospital) going to have a large amount that it’s going to have to cut. It’s going to result in cuts to beds and it’s going to result in cuts to staff. And it’s going to result in longer wait times. People being sent home more quickly when they are still acutely ill.”
He adds the provincial direction will also result in back-up’s in the emergency room and longer wait times.
Hurley says the government announced in April an increase in health care funding by 1.35-billion dollars.
“$900-million of that is going to the doctors as a result of the deal. So you’ve got $400-million that’s going to hospitals, long term care, emergency medical care, public health and home care.”
Hurley adds the Dryden hospital will be getting a 1% increase in provincial funding this year.
“Sounds good. Except that it needs about a 4% increase because it’s providing all the in-patients with drugs free of charge. Its got higher salaries for doctors as a result of the doctors deal (they are going up by 6.1% this year). Medical technologies are more expensive.
He says the hospital will see a projected funding cut of $750,000 by 2021-2022 and $1.25-million by 2023-2024.
Hurley adds the budget cuts come at a time when Dryden is facing an aging population.
He notes between 30%-35% of our population will be over 65 years old in the next two decades.
Based on research compiled by CUPE earlier this summer, the Dryden hospital will have to cut 2 beds and 11 staff over five years to meet the Conservatives’ budget plan.
With demographics changes like aging factored in, Hurley says the impact of those cuts will be like operating the hospital with 6 fewer beds and 37 fewer staff.
Hurley made the comments in Dryden today. (Monday)
To hear more, visit the Audio link below.
