Queensway Carleton Hospital staff to protest against Liberal government's budget cuts

Staff of the Queensway Carleton Hospital represented by CUPE will protest at lunchtime today over $5,000,000 in budget cuts imposed by the provincial Liberal government.

Ian Rayment, president of CUPE local 2875, representing 500 hundred registered practical nurses, tradespersons, cleaners, dietary and support staff at Queensway Carleton Hospital will tell the rally "the budget cuts will mean the permanent closure of 10 medicine beds of the hospital's 264 bed complement. 6 of 7 operating rooms and perioperative areas are closing for 5/ 2 week periods this summer. Also affected are day surgery, cystoscopy, inpatient surgery, the endoscopy room, the dysplasia clinic, the orthopedic procedure room, ambulatory care suture rooms and the ent clinic."

Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions will tell staff "the Queensway Carleton hospital doesn't receive enough funding. It serves a rapidly growing community, which is aging and using the hospital more. In 2010 Ontario received 6% in additional health transfers from the federal government. Nothing like that amount was transferred to this hospital. Hospital costs, factoring in medical technologies and drugs are much higher than the provincial transfer. As a result the Queensway Carleton has to cut beds and services."

At the rally, Mr. Rayment will announce that CUPE Local 2875 is kicking off a campaign directed at Hon. Bob Chiarelli, MPP urging him to provide leadership by defending the hospital in caucus and at the cabinet table.

OCHU Vice-president Louis Rodrigues will plead that "other Liberal MPPs and Ministers have succeeded in having the province cover the deficit or most of the deficit for their community hospital. While we congratulate Mr. Chiarelli on his cabinet appointment, we urge him to turn his attention to his constituents."

Source: ONTARIO COUNCIL OF HOSPITAL UNIONS (CUPE)