HOSPITAL PLANS CUTS AS PANDEMIC FUNDING ENDS

COVID-19, COLD AND FLU CLINIC WILL ALSO CEASE TO OPERATE

Millions in provincial funding that was provided to Stevenson Memorial Hospital in Alliston to help manage the surge in patients during the COVID-19 pandemic is about to come to an end, which will result in the elimination of eight beds and several staff positions that were put in place temporarily to help manage the surge in extra patients.

Hospital spokesperson Rachael Ogorek said the province provided $3.8 million to fund the additional beds to manage patients with isolation needs, and extra staff over the course of the pandemic. But the hospital recently learned the Ontario Health funding will not continue past March 31.

Ogorek said additional services related to COVID-19 will also be impacted. She noted that the COVID-19, cold and flu clinic, which has experienced low volumes in recent months, will also cease to operate at the end of the month.

She said the hospital will also be integrating its high acuity care into its medical/surgical unit as another effort to create "efficiencies."

"We are proud of how we managed patient volumes during one of the most challenging times in health care to meet the needs of our community," reads a portion of her statement.

A source familiar with the matter told Simcoe.com about 30 staff positions could be impacted,

but Ogorek was unable to provide specifics.

She did note the hospital is facing a deficit for the

2022/2023 fiscal year, and in order to "realign" the organization's finances, "there will be some changes." "We are working with our human resources department to ensure as many options as possible are presented to fill vacancies and minimize impact," she said.

Ogorek said despite the changes, local residents "can expect the same level of care" when they visit the facility.

The hospital will return to a 38-bed operating capacity when the funding ends, but the redeveloped hospital will boost the number of beds to 47.

"We are confident that we will be in a position to enhance our staffing again as we complete the redevelopment of our hospital to continue to meet the needs of our growing community while growing services within our new space," she said.