MUHC to make $28M in cuts to make up for budget deficit

The McGill University Health Centre needs tomake $28 million in cuts over the next two years to make up for a budget shortfall.

The cuts come a year after the MUHCmoved into its new superhospital at the Glen site.

Richard Fahey, the MUHC'sdirector of communications, didn't rule out cuts to staff. He said Thursday the MUHC would look first at trimming back expenses through attrition.

The MUHC will also look at ways to trim back expenses such as the renegotiationof contracts with suppliers, he said.

"There are many things that are being contemplated," he said in a phone interview.

TheMUHC'sannual budget is roughly $850 million.

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Fahey acknowledged the shortfall comes in part from cost overruns from the move to the new superhospital. He said a drop in funding from the province also contributed to the deficit.

He saidthe MUHC isn't hoping for cash from the province, even though it announced a$2.2-billion surplusearlier this week.

"Our commitment is to live within our means and that's what we're doing," he said.

Hospitals not 'allowed to go over budget,' health minister says

Asked about the issue in Quebec City, Health Minister Gatan Barrette said the the province won't be bailing out the MUHC.

"There are no hospitals in this province, whether they are a university hospital or community hospital, that are allowed to go over the budget. It's as simple as that," he said.

Paul Thomas, head of the CSN union's MUHC division, which represents employees such as orderlies, office workers, and medical archivists, said it's too early to say if there will be job losses.

"Honestly, we're cutting to the bone now. We're at the very bottom," he said.

Paul Brunet, chair of the Council for the Protection of Patients, said that he had heard of the cuts but does not yet know how they will affect patient services.

"There will definitely be some level of impact," said Brunet.

"What surprises me is that since 2007 we were never told the MUHC would cut service so drastically."