Psychological services at Ottawa Hospital in jeopardy;
Cuts follow bed closure announcements at ROH

OTTAWA - Mental health care for Ottawa area patients will suffer with the proposed layoff of five full-time equivalent positions - about 30 per cent of the staff - in the Psychology department at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH).

Psychology at TOH assesses or treats about 1300 new patients per year, many of whom require multiple visits. In addition to this number, many more patients receive services but are not recorded in the department’s database. The department treats people in serious distress including expectant mothers who have just learned their babies have fetal abnormalities, women with gynecological cancer, individuals coping with HIV and Hepatitis C diagnosis, women with severe eating disorders, patients with Alzheimer’s, patients with serious psychiatric disorders, such as psychosis, and young adults with traumatic brain injuries.

These programs would be eliminated or seriously reduced, with no replacement available in the community. Cuts will largely affect outpatient services.

These cuts come in the wake of the announcement last fall of 48 acute and rehabilitative bed closures at the Royal Ottawa Hospital (ROH). “Ottawa appears to be singled out for cuts to mental health programs,” said Leah Casselman, President of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), representing professionals at both hospitals. “Premier Ernie Eves and Health Minister Tony Clement should be ashamed. There are billions of dollars in new federal money coming for health care, yet the cuts continue,” she said.

“We believe in hospital-based psychology and we really want to be able to keep on delivering these valuable programs,” said Casselman. OPSEU is hosting a town hall meeting March 3, at 7:00 p.m. at Ottawa City Hall, Council Chambers, to discuss the effects of the proposed cuts to mental health programs and services at ROH and TOH. The public is welcome.

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For further information:

Sara Manoll, Staff Representative 613-739-9100
David Cox, OPSEU Communications: 416-443-8888 (ext 314)