'We're hurting': Sudbury hospital union president calls for more beds, staff

The Ontario government is raising funding for hospitals by three per cent in the 2017 budget.

But France Gelinas, Nickel Belt MPP and provincial NDP health critic, said a five per cent hike is needed just to maintain services.

"I'll let you do the math," Gelinas said.

"It means they won't be able to maintain what is already unacceptable."

The budget increase means $518 million more for hospitals in annual operating funding.

'We're hurting'

The union president for clerical and service workers at the hospital in Sudbury, Ont., calls it a step in the right direction, but hopes it helps with workloads and translates into more front line staff and patient beds.

"We're hurting," Dave Shelefontiukof CUPELocal 1623 said.

"I'm hoping any increase will result in alleviating that issue, but we'll have to wait and see."

There are not any measures in this year's budget to directly address the problem of patients lying on stretchers for days in the hallways waiting for beds.

But Finance Minister Charles Sousa insists a $7 billion boost to health care over the next three years will reduce pressure on the system.