Sudbury to feel the pain of North Bay health cuts: CUPE

Recent health care cuts in North Bay could put a greater strain on Sudbury's mental health services, says the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

The North Bay Regional Health Centre announced earlier this month it will cut 55 full-time jobs and 20 part-time positions.

The hospital will also cut eight mental health beds.

“We're predicting there's going to be an increased pressure (in Sudbury),” said Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions. “There just has to be on the next closest regional treatment centre, which is Sudbury.”

Hurley said hospitals in the province are having to cut costs due to a five-year funding freeze from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care.

With three years of freezes so far, Hurley said hospitals can't keep up with inflation and the increasing costs of medications and health services.

“It's that ongoing cost pressure that's forcing the reductions,” he said.

In addition to North Bay, Sault Area Hospital faces a $10-million budget shortfall and, according to media reports, plans to cut 35 full-time jobs and seven part-time positions. Today, the hospital announced it was cutting 13 registered nurses as well as one part-time registered nurse.

According to the Ontario Nurses Association, Health Sciences North will cut nursing staff. The hospital's budgeting discussions are ongoing, however, and no numbers have yet been officially confirmed for layoffs.

Health Sciences North spokesperson Dan Lessard said the hospital does not expect the mental health cuts in North Bay to impact Sudbury.

“I’m told those bed closures are just for beds operated by North Bay and likely won’t have an impact on the mental health care beds or services here,” he said in an email to NorthernLife.ca.

While campaigning with Liberal byelection candidate Glenn Thibeault, Onario Health Minister Eric Hoskins said the province has recently invested an additional $75 million for mental health services.

“We're actually significantly scaling up,” he said.

The province's investment, said Hoskins, includes funding for 1,000 housing units for people with mental health issues across Ontario.