Premier should stop making patients and families in North Bay pay for hospital cuts: NDP

During Question Period today, NDP Leader Andrea Horwath, demanded Premier Wynne listen to patients and families in North Bay and stop the cuts to their hospital.  Horwath met with frontline health care workers and patients in North Bay on Saturday.

“Liberal cuts have forced the North Bay Regional Health Centre to layoff over 350 nurses and hospital workers in recent years, to close beds, and to cut services. It means patients leave hospital quicker and go home sicker.  The hospital is understaffed and nurses and hospital workers are stressed and overworked,” Horwath said. “And the people of North Bay are paying the price for four straight years of the Liberal hospital funding freeze.  How can the Premier defend her record of cutting over 350 workers from the North Bay hospital?”

The President and CEO of the North Bay hospital has stated publicly that the hospital has been forced to cut spending by $35 million in the past three-and-a-half years, because of the Liberal government’s freeze on hospital operating budgets.  The hospital is expected to face even more challenges this year as funding is not keeping up with inflation, population growth, and growing costs.

“Health care is the silent crisis of this Liberal government,” Horwath said.  “The Liberals are forcing hospitals across Ontario to cut patient care, close beds, and layoff frontline workers, all because the Liberals refuse to properly fund our hospitals.  North Bay knows what that looks like.  Patients and families are paying the price for the Premier’s cuts to health care.”

“When will the Premier start listening to people, in North Bay and across Ontario, and stop the deep Liberal cuts to our hospitals?” Horwath said.