New Entrance at Bluewater Health Jan 26, 2016. BlackburnNews.com photo by Jake Jeffery.New Entrance at Bluewater Health Jan 26, 2016. BlackburnNews.com photo by Jake Jeffery.
Sarnia

MPP Wants Funding Formula Revamped

Sarnia-Lambton's MPP says the funding formula for hospitals in Ontario has to be revamped.

Bob Bailey makes the comment in reaction to news of more staff cuts at Bluewater Health.

The hospital says it expects to cut 12 net positions this year, as it wrestles with funding reductions from the province and a corresponding budget deficit. Since the funding formula changed in 2012, the hospital has lost a net of about 80 employees and $7-million in funding that is more like $13-million when inflation is taken into account.

Bailey says he's not surprised by the latest cuts.

"This is the fourth year that the hospital's base funding has been frozen at, I think it's been zero. So hospitals like Bluewater Health have been forced to find savings wherever they can whether it's in purchasing or actual cutbacks in positions," he says.

Hospitals in areas where the population is growing are getting more of the available provincial funding while areas like Sarnia-Lambton are getting less.

Bluewater Health officials say hospitals have hit the wall and the level of patient care is threatened.

Over 200 staff were notified of the cuts ahead of the hospital's board meeting Wednesday night.

A meeting with the hospital's three unions was set for today.

Bluewater Health says the current projected deficit for this year is $1.7-million, due largely to funding reductions of $2.5-million.

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