Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky, January 28, 2014.Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky, January 28, 2014.
Windsor

Petition To Reverse CCAC Cuts

Windsor West MPP Lisa Gretzky hopes the community will get behind a petition asking the Community Care Access Centre in Windsor to reverse a decision to cut the number of visits to some patients.

The agency cut visits to seniors and other patients by nurses and other healthcare professionals by a third and Gretzky calls it another attack on local health care. "Just a little more than a year ago, there was a threat to thoracic cancer surgery, and the community fought back and that was saved. Now in Leamington there's the threat to lose the O.B. (obstetrics) department out there," she says. "We're hoping the community will step forward to fight the cuts to CCAC services."

Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins continues to deny there have been any cuts to service, instead insisting his government has increased funding by 99% since taking office. The agency itself admits some patients are getting fewer visits, but CEO Lori Marshall calls it a service realignment, not a service cut.

Gretzky says Marshall admitted in a meeting with her and Taras Natyhsak that she had received a bonus for balancing the agency's budget. Marshall is entitled to a 10% performance bonus under the terms of her contract. The agency eliminated three management positions, but Gretzky believes the cuts in home care service helped balance the books.

There is an online copy of the petition, but Gretzky will only present the paper petition in the legislature. "That's the only way that they will actually recognize the petition." Hard copies are available at Gretzky's constituency office in Windsor. They're also available at Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Percy Hatfield and Essex MPP Taras Natyshak's offices.

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