The MPP for St. Catharines says she has heard more layoffs are coming at Niagara Health.
NDP MPP Jennie Stevens says she has heard another round of staffing cuts will be made focusing on personal support workers.
“That means medical and surgical floors at the St. Catharines hospital site will see PSW coverage go from 24 hours, to 16 hours a day.”
She says that will put more stress on nurses and will amount to a loss of 20 full and part-time positions.
Stevens calls it a patient safety crisis.
Niagara Health announced late last year it was eliminating 98 positions to address a $26 million budget deficit, aiming to save over $9 million annually.
Officials at Niagara Health say there is no new announcement or plan related to layoffs of personal support workers or nursing staff.
“Staffing impacts are connected to previous announcements including the planned closure of the Long-Term Care home in Welland. The process of determining individual impacts is complex and requires ongoing partnership with our unions. Our priority is to explore every possible reassignment opportunity and support our staff throughout this transition; however, layoff notices may ultimately be necessary.”
Story and photo credit: Bonnie Heslop
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