The Ontario Hospital Association says anything less than a two per cent funding increase in the upcoming March budget won’t be enough to stop health-care service cuts.
Without the two per cent increase in operating funds, association president Tom Closson said the government won’t be able to meet its goals of reducing wait times and it will cause bed closures.
The Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre is also depending on the two per cent jump to keep them in a balanced position, said senior vice-president of corporate services Scott Potts.
The government said they will either give a minimum of a one per cent increase, but Potts said if that’s the case, the Health Sciences Centre will have to make some changes.
"We’re looking at different service levels and potential changes we might have to make in different areas," he said. "It’s really too early to speculate. We’re pretty optimistic that the government is going to come through with the two per cent."
Potts added the OHA is working hard on behalf of the province’s hospitals and he believes the government recognizes the need for health services and how essential they are for the population.
