HSN says it can balance budget without nursing layoffs

Health Sciences North says it can balance its budget without any nurse layoffs, according to a budget preview the hospital released Wednesday.

“To minimize the impact on patients and employees, HSN has focused its efforts on finding efficiencies using such measures as not filling existing vacancies, attrition, and reductions in scheduled hours,” the hospital said in a press release attached to the budget preview.

“HSN anticipates that no nurses will have to leave the system. There are 44 vacancies for RNs and RPNs at HSN which would accommodate any nursing impact.”

Due to a budget freeze – for the third consecutive year – Health Sciences North cut $5.2 million in spending in its 2015-2016 budget, or roughly 1.2 per cent of its total budget.

The hospital submitted a budget of $427.4 million for the fiscal year, which begins April 1, 2015.

To save $5.2 million, Health Sciences North will cut just over 35 full-time equivalent non-management positions, or about one per cent of unionized positions at the hospital.

Health Science North is also cutting 6.4 full-time equivalent management positions, or around three per cent of total management employees.

The hospital employs 3,900 people.

Nearly 26 full-time equivalent position reductions are Ontario Nurses' Association members; just over three are staff with the Canadian Union of Public Employees; 4.5 full-time equivalents are with the Ontario Public Services Employees Union; and two are non-union and non-management.

The Ontario Nurses' Association said on March 17 that Health Sciences North would cut 42 registered nurse positions.

In terms of patient care, the hospital said in its budget preview it will phase out four surgical beds, and not fill vacancies in the surgical program through attrition.

But the hospital said there will be “no reduction to surgical volumes or service.”

Health Sciences North said it will phase out two positions in the mental health and addictions program, and not fill vacancies in that department.

The hospital will also implement a planned bed closure in psychiatry during low occupancy periods.

The hospital's family and child program will phase out its pre-admission clinic, and will not fill any full-time vacancies.

Full-time positions will also not be filled in the hospital's critical care program.

Health Sciences North will change the staff mix in the medical program, with an all-registered nurse model for oncology, and a registered practical nurse, personal support worker and activity worker model for alternate level of care patients.

In the emergency and ambulatory care program, Health Sciences North will move to an all-registered practical nurse model for the emergency department green zone – for less intensive care, and will see no reductions in its registered nurse complement.

The critical care program will see a reduction of intensive care unit beds on weekends, and a policy not to fill full-time positions.