Windsor Regional Hospital hydro bill jumps 49 per cent in five years, says NDP

The Metropolitan Campus of the Windsor Regional Hospital has seen a 49 per cent increase over the past five years, according to the Ontario NDP.

• Windsor MPP slams province for crowded hospitals

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Provincial NDP leader Andrea Horwath said annualhydro costsat Windsor Regional Hospital jumped to $2.6 million in 2016 up from $1.7 million in 2011.

"There have already been frontline workers laid off at manyhospitals, and with skyrocketing hydro bills,hospitalsare being squeezed tighter," she added. "It'sclear that hydro costs are hurting families in more ways than one."

Horwath said the hike in hydro costs is coming at a time where people in Ontario are already feeling the burn of expensive electricity. The latest figures now show that hospital staff are being asked to do more with less.

• Spike in patient numbers has Ontario hospitals bursting at seams

"Wait times are already too long," she explained."Staff are already run off their feet. How can thehospitalbe expected to continue provide high quality patient care when Premier Wynne is squeezing them like this?"

A spokesperson from WRH said the hospital did not have a statement or response forHorwath's claims.