The numbers are working against the South Bruce Grey Health Centre.
CEO Paul Davies says the occupancy of beds at the four hospitals within the system is less than 50 per cent.
It doesn’t mean more job cutbacks in the future because the centre only staffs according to occupancy.
However, it could mean a cutback in actual beds available for patients.
Davies says with the occupancy rate so low but with so many beds available the Ministry of Health could view it as not being active although staff is geared only to number of beds in use.
He says there are 106 beds open but only 48.6 per cent are being used.
Davies says because it is a numbers game, the health centre may consider cutting back on registered beds.
He says people are just not staying in hospitals for extended lengths of time anymore.
He says the trend now is to get treatment at the hospital, even surgery, and then recovering at home.
Davies says many people don’t want to stay at the hospital any longer than necessary because, as he puts it, “You can catch stuff here.”