HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2004-09-30, Page 28PAGE 28. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2004.
IMPORTANT COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT FROM
HURON PERTH HEALTHCARE ALLIANCE
Balancing the Budget
In order to erase the projected $7 million deficit, the options for the
Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance budget will include measures to
generate revenue, become more efficient, and reduce costs through
a reduction of staff, programs and services. More details will be
available at the open houses to be held on October 4 and 5, 2004
and following the open houses, information packages will be
available from each hospital site. We invite comments and
suggestions on any part of the budget plan.
1. Community Reinvestment - The Ontario government has stated
that hospitals should concentrate on providing acute care and
surgical services. As such, the Alliance is looking at services it
currently provides that could instead be provided by community
agencies. Based on this government philosophy, the Huron Perth
Healthcare Alliance has identified savings if it ceases to provide
services such as outpatient rehabilitation services.
2. Revenue Generation - The Alliance plans to increase revenues
through such actions as raising parking rates and increasing
rental charges for use of hospital facilities.
3. Efficiencies - This involves comparing our costs in all areas
against top-performing Ontario hospitals, and reducing costs
where possible.
4. Bed dr Program Changes - Different scenarios are under
consideration. Cost saving measures range from consolidating
certain programs on one hospital site to an overall reduction of
beds at all sites.
• Community consultation:
Open houses October 4 and
5, and ongoing
n Prepare final plan to be
approved by the Alliance
Board for recommendation
to the Ministry of Health
and Long-Term Care
• Submit plan to Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care:
October 12
As many community members are aware, the Huron Perth Healthcare
Alliance, including the hospitals of Clinton, St Marys, Seaforth, and
Stratford, is facing a serious budget shortfall of a projected $7 million over
the next two years. This situation is not unique to the Alliance, with Ontario
hospitals collectively identifying two-year funding shortfalls in the
neighbourhood of $1 billion.
The Government of Ontario is requiring all Ontario hospitals to submit
balanced budget plans to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care by
October 12. 2004.
Hospitals must also sign an Interim Accountability Agreement, which
includes, among other things; the promise to balance operating budgets by
March 31, 2006 and for each subsequent fiscal year. If a hospital does not
sign the agreement, it will receive no new funding for 2004/2005 or
2005/2006 - in the Alliance's case, approximately $2 million.
If the agreement is not signed, there is also the risk that the goyernment will
intervene with the Alliance, directing the organization to implement changes
determined through reviews by externally appointed consultants.
The Alliance has been working on identifying options that will allow us to
submit a balanced budget to the government by the October 12 deadline.
As we have said publicly, none of the decisions we must make to prepare
a balanced budget will be easy ones.
Before the government's budget deadline, a staff and community
consultation process will be held to share options and receive comments and
suggestions. This process includes presenting details of the options at four
community open houses. Following the consultation, we will finalize the
budget and submit it to the government, along with commentary received
airing the consultation process.
We appreciate the support from our staff and our communities as we
undertake this difficult budgeting process.
Sincerely,
Andrew Williams, Chief Executive Officer,
Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance
How the Cost-Cutting Options
are Being Evaluated:
n Impact on:
- patient and family
- community
- staff
- physicians
- Alliance
- core services
Why Does the Alliance Have a Deficit?
• The cost to operate hospitals is rising faster than funding
• The Alliance will receive less funding this year than it did last year
• Provincially-negotiated salary increases for nurses, diagnostic/therapeutic
staff and support staff are not traditionally covered by provincial funding
increases
Open House Dates and Times
n Clinton - Royal Canadian Legion (95 Kirk Street, Clinton)
- Monday, October 4, 2004 - 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
n Consistency with Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care
guidelines
n Availability of programs/
services elsewhere
What is the Budget Plan
Process?
n Huron Perth Healthcare
Alliance staff and physician
consultation: Ongoing
n Public announcement of
submitted plan: October 12
e Presentations to community
groups: Ongoing through
fall 2004
n Anticipated response from
Ministry of Health and Long-
Term Care: Late 2004
n Anticipated community
announcement of approved
plan: Late 2004
n St. Marys - St. Marys Golf & Country Club (769 Queen Street East,
St. Marys) - Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
n Seaforth - Seaforth Agricultural Society Agriplex (140 Duke Street,
Seaforth) - Monday, October 4, 2004 - 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Contact
For details about the budget options
and/or if you wish to make comments
about these options, please call:
Andrew Williams,
Chief Executive Officer,
(519) 272-8202.
• Stratford - Stratford General Hospital (46 General Hospital Drive,
Stratford), El E Conference Room - Tuesday, October 5, 2004
- 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
HURON PERTH
HEALTHCARE
ALLIANCE