Bluewater Health Blackburnnews.com File PhotoBluewater Health Blackburnnews.com File Photo
Sarnia

Bluewater Health Faces $1.8M Deficit

Bluewater Health is facing a $1.8-million deficit this fiscal year.

That's $456,000 more than the hospital had originally budgeted for.

President and CEO Mike Lapaine says it was the fourth consecutive year for provincial funding cutbacks, which saw a $2.5-million reduction this year.

"It is the first deficit we've had in six years. We're hopeful with the announcement at provincial budget that there will be additional funding for hospitals," he says.

"We hope this is our last deficit for quite some time."

Over the past three years, the hospital has seen $7-million worth of funding reductions and has cut about 80 net positions to help make up for it.

The hospital recently cut 12 net positions in January and expects to release an update on those numbers in April.

Lapaine says it's difficult to predict any future cuts.

"In terms of 16/17, we've already laid out the plan. Staff are well aware of what the changes we proposed for, we reported on that in the past."

He says there are no plans at the moment to make changes to the 2016/17 operating plan, but "only time will tell".

The next fiscal year begins April 1.

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