Progressive Conservative Leader Patrick Brown says Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre is 'putting a rosy face' on a budget crunch that Brown blames on the Wynne Liberals.
“This is the third year in a row that I’ve had to speak out about this government’s failure to fund for patient demand and the pressure increasing hydro rates have put on RVH’s budget process,” said Brown.
In 2015-16 and 2016-17, RVH faced funding gaps of $8 million and $10.6 million respectively.
While the hospital was successful in finding $1.6 million in efficiencies, skyrocketing energy costs and the Liberal Government’s failure to adequately fund Ontario hospitals means that the jobs of 22 RVH employees are at risk, according to the PC leader.
The impact, according to Brown, is fewer full-time and more part-time nurses, reduction of operating hours and diminished morale.
"As a Barrie guy, as someone that cares about Simcoe County, I don't like seeing this happen to our hospital," Brown said, adding his criticism is not directed at RVH officials.
"They have to put a rosy face on it. I've been told bluntly by RVH they don't want to risk any of their funding. They don 't want to risk the long-promised help in cardiac," he said.
"It's just not sustainable. I realize that they're muted on this and they can't speak out but as an elected official I can speak out. I can say what's right and I'm calling the government out on this. It's not right."
Brown cites what he calls Liberal government's 'massive' new spending on administration.
This fall the Wynne government announced it was creating 84 new executives for Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs), a regional health-care bureaucracy that manages the system throughout Ontario.
The Tory leader said the government plans to hire 84 vice-presidents and create new “sub-LHINs” throughout the province.
"This giant growth in administration while we're cutting front-line care isn't right," Brown said.
According to the 2015 Sunshine List, RVH President and chief executive officer Janice Skot's salary was $302,960, followed by executive vice-president Nancy Savage at $295,000.
Five RVH vice-presidents also made the Sunshine List, earning more than $100,000 last year.
Brown declined to speak specifically about RVH executives.
"I think the health care system in general is too bloated in terms of administration. I think executive compensation is out of control. I haven't seen the numbers at RVH so I'm not pointing fingers at RVH but I'd say in general in the health care system, we have a problem with bloated administration."
If he were premier Brown says he would diminish spending on administration and 'reign in' executive compensation.
He says also wants to know the numbers behind skyrocketing Hydro costs at RVH.
"I've asked that question myself and I have not got a response," Brown said.
"But if you ask what the hospital's energy bill was in 2003 compared to what it is today it would be astronomically different."
