Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath was in Chatham-Kent to hear from front-line healthcare workers on Sunday morning.
Horwath came to Chatham-Kent to discuss the challenges facing patients and families “due to the Liberal government’s cuts to hospital funding.”
Horwath says it’s time for the Liberal government to stop cutting hospital care, put a moratorium on cuts to nurses and ensure that Ontario families can count on their health care system to be there when they need it.
She reiterated that hospital funding should be stable, predictable and, at a minimum, must keep pace with inflation and population growth.
“The last thing people should have to worry about is their family’s health care,” Horwath said in a statement.
“Instead of stability, people are watching as hundreds of nurses are fired, hospital beds are closed, and services are being cut across Ontario because this Liberal government is forcing hospitals to make decisions based on dollars and deficits, instead of what’s best for patients.”
Horwath added: “Health care is this government’s silent crisis. Ontarians deserve health care they can count on, and that’s what the NDP is determined to deliver.”
Provincial NDP officials say more than 1,440 nursing positions have been cut since the start of 2015 because hospital base funding was frozen by Kathleen Wynne for four straight years.
Budget 2016 contains “a mere one percent increase,” NDP officials say.
By refusing to ensure hospital funding keeps up with inflation and the cost of serving a growing population, the Liberals are forcing hospitals to cut patient care and lay-off frontline healthcare workers.
In Chatham Kent, year after year, hospitals have been forced by the Liberals to make deep cuts, layoff dedicated frontline healthcare workers, and cut crucial hospital services.
“14 million Ontarians rely on the health care system,” Horwath stated.
“Whether it is parents worried about a sick child, or our growing senior population who need more care to stay healthy, we all count on our hospitals and emergency rooms. We need to stop cutting nurses, and make sure at the very least, that hospital funding keeps up with inflation and population growth. Ontario can and must do so much better.”
