OCHU

Northumberland Hills Citizen Health Coalition

Concerned Citizens Meeting to Fight Hospital Cuts

March 22, 2010
For Immediate Release
Citizens of west Northumberland will continue their fight against cuts at Northumberland Hills Hospital at a meeting on Wednesday, March 24 at the Cobourg Public Library at 5.30 p.m.
“We have more work to do to turn back these cuts for the health of our community” said Peggy Smith co-chair of the Northumberland Hills Citizen Coalition. “We are concerned citizens fighting for our hospital services. Everyone is welcome and we look forward to seeing you.”
The Coalition will continue its work on an action plan to stop the hospital cuts. In their last meeting the group agreed to continue their work and to distribute a petition against the cuts throughout the community and to meet with local government MPP Lou Rinaldi to urge him to fight against the cuts.
“The government-appointed LHIN has approved NHH’s proposal to cut outpatient services for rehabilitation and diabetes, complex care and interim long term care beds. These cuts harm access to vital health care services in our community. Our voice needs to be heard at Queens Park now - the government can reverse these cuts” said Patty Park, co-chair of the Northumberland Hills Citizen Coalition.
Citizens who are unable to attend the meeting can contact either of the co-chairs to be involved.
For more information contact:
Peggy Smith 905-885-4005
Patty Park 905-342-2693
Northumberland Hills Citizen Health Coalition

Download Petition

For release: 10:00 a.m. March 18, 2010

Vital services cut at Northumberland Hills Hospital- union calls on MPP to deliver for his communities

Cobourg Ontario…Vital services will be lost at the Northumberland Hills Hospital as a result of dramatic cuts to beds, services and staff, the union representing employees at the hospital charged today.

Michael Hurley president of CUPE’s 30,000 member Ontario Council of Hospital Unions stated“ the Hospital is cutting out patient diabetic care, non-urgent care out patient rehab services and closing 26 beds. That’s 23% of total beds. These cuts are the most dramatic, relative to the size of the hospital that we have seen in Ontario this year.”

Michael Hurley, stated that “ Northumberland Hills Hospital has a deficit because an aging population is using its services in greater numbers. Ontario’s hospital system is the most efficient hospital system in Canada, with more acute patients than the other provinces, fewer beds and staff than the other provinces, and the shortest length of stay. The answer is not cuts, which will make the hospital less efficient, but additional funding, in recognition of the real problem. Mr. Rinaldi, MPP for Quinte Northumberland, needs to convince his government to come through for these communities as they came did for Niagara.”

The Ministry of Health announced in February that $14 million of the $16 million deficit of the Niagara Health System’s hospitals will be covered.

Peggy Smith, President of CUPE Local 2628, stated that “ We have printed postcards calling on Mr. Rinaldi to defend our community hospital. We will be working to get people to sign them over the next week. Other MPPs have been effective for their hospitals. We need our MPP’s help to save services.”

For information contact:
Peggy Smith, President, CUPE Local 2628: 905-376-7876
Michael Hurley, President, OCHU: 416-884-0770