Hospital staff are waiting to hear next month, just how many jobs will have to be cut, or services eliminated to balance the books at Grey Bruce Health Services.
President and CEO Maureen Solecki says the Southwest Local Health integration Network was presented with its draft plan to trim spending by another two million dollars.
GBHS has already sliced off 6.2 million dollars thru layoffs, reduced overtime, vacation or sick pay and some equipment consolidation.
The Hospital services has a 160 million dollar budget, and Maureen Solecki says several things are impacting the bottom line.
Those include growth in clinical programs, one time expenses and the provinces’ inability to match inflation due to declining revenue.
The Hospital CEO and President admits there could be service cuts in some smaller hospitals in the group, but declined to identify them until the Southwest LHIN responds to the board of directors proposal.
Solecki says they have a number of limited options for raising money, such as increasing parking fees to help offset the deficit, but some jobs will be eliminated to make up the budget shortfall.
She says early retirements and not filling some open positions will help to reduce the impact on existing staff.
Solecki expects to hear back from the LHIN early in November, and once cuts are approved she’ll meet with staff and hold meetings in affected communities this fall.
There is a regular monthly board meeting at the Southampton hospital tonight.
It is at 6 PM and everyone is welcome, but Solecki says no more details of their plan to balance the books will be revealed tonight.
