Health care cutbacks across Ontario

Sudbury hospital officials expect the shortage of hospital beds in the city will force 4 surgeries a day to be cancelled. Thirty have been cancelled this month.

Dr. David Boyle, the hospital's medical director of surgical services told the CBC he's frustrated because his department has toiled away at reducing surgical wait lists. “We've worked hard over the last two years to improve all of our wait lists. We still have quite a lot of stressors on our wait list compared to the other parts of the province." Boyle said the problem lies in the absence of a home care strategy for seniors.

Earlier this year, the hospital (Health Sciences North) was forced to cut 30 beds. The government is expected to require the hospital to cut another 30 beds next March.

Meanwhile, Betty Kutcha, CEO, of the Erie-St. Clair Community Care Access Centre told the Chatham Daily News, that personal support home care is becoming more limited as the agency is required to direct its resources to those clients with the highest needs.

As well, the Ottawa Citizen reports six short-term rehabilitation beds for patients needing post-surgical therapy have been closed at the Ottawa Hospital. The hospital claims the beds were not fully used. It expects to give notice to employees of looming job cuts next week.

The hospital had already announced the elimination of 96 other jobs to help it deal with it's $23 million budget shortfall.

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