COBOURG - The Northumberland Hills Hospital
is making deep cuts to patient services, leaving the county
with fewer beds, no publicly-funded outpatient rehab
services, and closure of the diabetes education and outreach
program.
It is estimated that more than the
equivalent of 45 full-time jobs will be lost at the hospital
as it cuts 16 alternate level of care beds, closes its
entire 18-bed complex care and interim long term care wing,
and ends its outpatient rehab and diabetes programs. About
five of these lost full-time equivalent jobs will belong to
professionals represented by OPSEU.
“While the McGuinty government has been
bailing out struggling hospitals across the province, it
appears to be throwing in the towel at Northumberland Hills
Hospital,” says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, President of the
130,000-member Ontario Public Service Employees Union. “This
is going to have a major impact on the ability of the
hospital to serve the local community.”
Even with the cuts, the hospital will not
entirely eliminate its $1.8 million deficit. It plans on
balancing in the next fiscal year, 2011/12.
With the closure of outpatient rehab
services, it leaves few places to receive publicly-funded
care from a physiotherapist or occupational therapist. Most
residents will now have to travel to Oshawa or Peterborough
for rehab care.
The announcement comes on the same day the
province revealed it is going to make hospitals compete on
price for the right to perform surgeries and other
treatments, similar to competitive bidding in home care. A
Liberal spokesperson admitted to the media that the changes
may not be welcome by general hospitals or those serving
rural communities.
“Our members are shaken by these cuts,” says
Kim Zoldy, Chief Steward of OPSEU Local 344, “they are now
faced with major decisions about their future in this
community.”
The cuts are not the first for the NHH. It
was originally designed for 137 beds, but presently has 110
beds in operation. After the changes, it will be reduced to
84 beds.
“The Mayor of Shelburne recently reflected
on the fact that cuts each year at his community hospital
eventually led to its closure,” says Thomas. “Every small
and rural community has got to be thinking the same thing
this week.”
Residents will have the opportunity to
express their views at an upcoming forum next Wednesday from
3 to 6:30 pm at the Lion’s Club. The Ontario Health
Coalition is touring the province seeking input on the
future or rural and northern hospital care.
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