Funding cuts? Province, NDP bicker over $36M in health-care savings

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority's budget was again scrutinized on Monday, as the provincial government and NDP argued over whether the department is facing funding cuts.

The opposition partyproduced a new internal document showing the WRHA plans to find $36 million in savings through anumber ofcategories, ranging fromlaundry and food production to consolidating patientbeds and staffing.

TheNDPasserts the figures provethe province is cutting health care, but theprovince disagrees.

Instead, the Progressive Conservativesargueda $45.5 million increase in provincial funding from the prior year demonstratesthe government is actually investing more inhealth care.

"We reject this notion somehowof cuts," saidhealth minister CameronFriesen."This is more investment not less."

The figures the NDPtrumpetedMonday show theinitiatives the WRHA is pursuing to balance itsbudget and offset growing costs such as inflation, a health authorityspokespersonsaid.

The NDP arguedthe $36 million reductionthis year follows$83 million in savings the province directed the WRHA to find in 2017-18.

Continued cuts: NDP

"We'veseen the impact of more than $80 million dollars in cuts to Winnipeghealth region," NDPleader WabKinew told reporters.

"To see another $36 million dollars puts some big question marks for what this government'splan is to deliver quality health care in Manitoba."

The NDPsharedanother document Monday, also obtained through a freedom of information request,thatshowedthe provincial government is spending $33.5millionin order to consolidate operations.

The expenditures include $12 million for an ambulatory clinic at Health Sciences Centre and $5 million to redevelop the emergency department at St. Boniface Hospital.

"The Pallister government has not only found a way to cut health care directly, giving Manitobans less health care, but they're actually spending money in other areas to again deliver less health care to peoplein this province," Kinewsaid.

We must on the short-term do whatever we can to harness efficiencies, to be able to consolidate services.- Health Minister Cameron Friesen

Friesen said his government is pleased with itsinvestmentsin capital projects.

CBC News asked the WRHA for anexplanationon the $36 million in savings it has been asked to find which the health authority is refusing to describe as a cut.

Patients grouped together

The WRHAsaid it saved $4.7 million through "clinical consolidation" by grouping patients with similar needs together, which reduces patients' length of stay and, accordingly,the number of beds patientsrequire.

Staffing levels increased in some areas because of the new categorization of patients, but decreased elsewhere because they were no longer needed, the WRHAsaid. These various efficiencies broughtalmost $3.7 million in savings, he said.

Another $4.4 million will be saved through a variety of initiatives, such as cutting back on the duplication of on-call services, signing new supply contracts and creating shared management positions between facilities.

"The changes we're making is because the health-care system in its present form is not sustainable," Friesensaid. "We must on the short-term do whatever we can to harness efficiencies, to be able to consolidate services.

Province, NDP bicker over $36M in health-care savings

6 years ago

Duration 1:57

'This is more investment not less,' health minister says, after rejecting NDP allegation of a $36 million cut.

With files from Sean Kavanagh