Eastern Health cutting jobs, Central Health closing clinics to save after budget cuts

Newfoundland and Labradorhealth authorities announced Mondaythey will be cutting jobs and closing clinicsfollowing cuts made in the 2016-17provincial budget.

• Full coverage of budget 2016
• $50M cut to health care part of fiscal reality, says John Haggie

Eastern Health says it will be cutting the equivalent of107 full time jobs, while Central Health will be closing clinics inGander Bay (Wing's Point),Carmanville, Hare Bay and Hermitage.

The budget, which was laid out last week, reduced the operating grants for both Eastern Health and Central Health, forcing them to tighten operations.

Eastern Health

Eastern Health said Monday that its cost cutting measureswillsave around $19 million annually.

The health authority said the majority of thesepositions will be "eliminated through redeployment tovacant positions or attrition".

"The cost saving initiatives we are communicating today willensure Eastern Health is more financially sustainable in the future, while minimizing any negative impact on the quality or safety of patient, client or resident care," saidDavid Diamond, CEO and president of Eastern Health.

"As stewards of taxpayers' dollars, we are accountable for operating and spending our budget within available means."

The health authority also said theseFTEreductions will result in fewer hours of work for temporary employees and less overtime for permanent employees.

Services affected

Programs and services will also be affected.

Some routine breast cancer screening will end with women age 40-49 no longer being screened as part "the population-based breast screening program." The womencancontinue get regularmammographywith a physician requisition.

Mental Health and Addictions will see some programs and services either eliminated or consolidated with other related programs.

The 10-bedresidential program at theWaterfordHospital will be closed.These residents will be transferred to other units at theWaterford, placed in a long-term care facility, or appropriate accommodations will be found in the community.

The authority said it will also be closing theMasonic Parklong term care facility in St. John's, which has 40 beds,and moving residents to thenew Veterans Pavilion facilityin St. John's.

Central Health

The central health authority, meanwhile,said in a statementthat it will be consolidating primary care clinics to save money in that region.

"In the current fiscal environment we have had to make some difficult decisions because just as we as individuals manage a household budget, so too must the healthcare system live within its means," saidRosemarieGoodyear, president and CEO of Central Health.

Central Health said it will also be converting the dialysis space atConnaigrePeninsulaHealth Centre into long term care beds due to limited demand for dialysis, and reducing emergency room hours atDr. HughTwomeyHeath Centre inBotwood.

The authority also plans to generate revenue through a 20 per centincrease in cafeteria prices and will billfor community-based servicesprovided to individuals from out-of-province and workers compensation claimants".

"We recognize that access to healthcare services is of great importance to the people of this region and I also acknowledge that, for some people, these initiatives may place that value under additional strain," saidGoodyear.

"Operating in the reality of limited resources, we know that access must reflect the evidence so that precious healthcare resources can be used for the greatest good."

Western Health

In a news briefingMonday afternoon, Western Health said it has found ways to save $1,365,400 a year.

That will mean eliminating 12.8 full time equivalent positions, mostly nurses who work in the operating and recovery rooms which will now be staffed on an on-call basis during the evenings and on weekends.

Four housekeeping and laundry jobs will also be eliminated.

Western Healthwill also shut down its school of nursing residence. It says the housing was built to accommodate 69 students, including those from other academic institutions, but the level of interest has been declining, so the space will be used for offices that are now in leased buildings.

"Our goal there will be no impact on patient services and patient care," said chief financial officer DevonGoulding.