April 11, 2016 – QUEEN’S PARK: Patients, families and health care workers pay the price for government’s cuts to London hospitals: MPP Teresa Armstrong
QUEEN’S PARK – During Question Period today, Teresa Armstrong, MPP London-Fanshawe, called on the Premier to answer for government cuts to health care that have forced hospitals in London to cut patient care, lay off front-line staff and shut down even more beds.
“In the past two weeks, we’ve learned that St. Joseph’s and London Health Sciences are both cutting the equivalent of 60 full-time positions,” said Armstrong. “Budgets for supplies are being cut and 12 crucial transitional care beds will be shut down this October.”
St. Joseph’s Health Care in London has seen a $36.5 million cut to its total budget over the past four years. While London Health Sciences says that 2016-17 marks the fifth straight year that funding will not keep up with rising costs.
“Hospitals in London have revealed just how deep this government is cutting health care. And we all know who pays the price for these cuts,” said Armstrong. “It’s patients, who wait longer for the care they need. It’s families, who are forced to deal with more worry and more stress. And it’s frontline health care workers, who don’t deserve pink slips from this government.”
“Can the Premier once again slash funding to hospitals in London and expect patient health care not to suffer?” asked Armstrong.