The reduced hours at Clinton hospital have been displayed on this sign for several years now | Photo by: B. Shakyaver
In a press conference held by the Ontario Healthcare Coalition on Friday morning, (September 15th), the dire state of healthcare in Ontario took center stage.
Natalie Mehra, the executive director of the coalition, delivered a sobering message to the public, highlighting an alarming trend of hospital closures throughout the province. The numbers tell a grim story. In 2022, there were 848 hospital closures, and this year, they are on track to match that number.
Mehra’s words were definitive,
Local municipalities are grappling with additional costs for paramedic and EMS services, further straining resources. Remaining hospitals are stretched thin, with staff burnout and retention issues due to overburdened facilities.
Frequent closures in Wingham, St. Mary’s, Seaforth and Clinton were brought up as symptoms of the much wider problem that exists in the province.
The province was called out directly by Mehra.
Mehra pointed out that while the province announced funding for hospitals, most of it went toward covering deficits caused by hiring private, for-profit, temporary agency staff. The province framed this as a funding announcement, but it merely brought hospitals back to breaking even.
The call went out to the public to exert pressure on the province, through advocacy.
The coalition is hosting a protest at Queens Park in Toronto on September 25th.
Written by: B. Shakyaver
