The CEO of Grey Bruce Health Services says the hospital board is working hard to find ways to reduce costs.
GBHS is projecting an operating shortfall of about $4-million for the fiscal year that ends in March of 2017. If no changes are made, the deficit is expected to grow to approximately $7-million in 2017-2018.
However, Lance Thurston says no decision has been made on the future of the operating rooms at the Meaford, Markdale and Southampton hospitals. The board will be announcing a series of internal and public engagement sessions in late January.
Thurston says the provincial funding model that applies to GBHS rewards urban centres that have growing populations. It also sets standards for cost effectiveness that cannot be realized by a multi-hospital system that serves a dispersed rural population that is not growing.
Over the past several months, staff and physicians have worked on a number of potential measures to reduce the operating deficit over the next four years. The board of directors is assessing the options.
Both the South West Local Health Integration Network and the Ministry of Health have responded positively to the GBHS call for funding assistance.
