29 'back-office' positions eliminated at Waterloo Wellington LHIN as part of provincial cuts

The Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) will layoff 23 staff in 'back-office' positions and six vacant positions will be axedas the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care moves to consolidate 20 health care agencies across the province into one, called Ontario Health.

Across the province, 416 back office workers will be laid off and 409 vacant positions will be eliminated, the ministry announced Wednesday.

According to the ministry, the positions are "duplicate" positions in the areas of communications, planning, human resources, data analytics, and financial services.

"None of the impacted positions provide direct patient care," says Travis Kann, spokesperson for the Ministry of Health.

The government expects to save about $250 million after eliminating "duplicate" back-office positions and vacant positions this year.

The ministrysays they are "redirecting health care dollars from administration to direct patient care."

The savings will go towards hospital operations, long-term care beds, funding for home and community care, and the new dental programs for low-income seniors.

Officials with the Waterloo Wellington LHIN declined to comment when contacted by CBC Kitchener-Waterloo and directed all questions to the ministry.