Listen Live
Listen Live
HomeNewsHospital to cut 29 residential addiction treatment beds says CUPE

Hospital to cut 29 residential addiction treatment beds says CUPE

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) says the provincial government is closing down 29 residential addiction treatment beds.

“The hospital called together the staff at the residential addiction treatments program late last week and told them as of mid-2020, the program would be closing it’s in-residence phase and that the people who are cared for in that environment now would be treated on an outpatient basis at the hospital,” says Michael Hurley, the president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) of CUPE.

“There are 29 beds in this program. North Bay in particular, and the surrounding communities, have a higher level of addiction than a similar community in southern Ontario,” Hurley continued. “Since May we have had six fatalities in North Bay and over 100 emergency visits by people for overdose on opiates.”

In response to the claims by CUPE, Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli says “Our government is delivering real action by investing a historic $3.8 billion over the next 10 years to build a comprehensive, integrated and connected mental health and addictions system.”

- Advertisement -

“This is a reinvestment in community addiction services to help more people access addictions help,” Fedeli continues. “Any suggestion by OCHU to the contrary is simply dishonest and shameful. Funding will be reinvested in a Transitional Housing and Crisis Stabilization Centre where Community WMS and Safe Beds will be co-located with emergency shelter, a warming centre, and transitional housing. This model will allow social services and mental health and addictions providers to work together to stabilize clients and provide accessible housing.”

That’s not the case says Hurley.

“The truth is, the government, through its funding policy, is forcing a cut of residential addiction on the North Bay community,” Hurley explained. “This is a program that is desperately needed and needs to keep open. I know Mr. Fedeli will get through this phase of his reaction and his mind will turn to what he can do to keep this vital program running.”

“The reality is the Conservative government gave the North Bay hospital a one per cent increase,” Hurley continued. “It needs about a five per cent increase to meet its operating cost because it is providing drugs free to all of its inpatients. It has higher costs for medical technology, doctor’s salaries go up for the next five years, and it’s the reality.”

Hurley says “In real terms, the North Bay hospital’s budget is being cut. It’s being given an increase so minimal that it will need to cut. This cut is aimed at such a vulnerable community. These are individuals that are struggling in a very profound way. This has implications for their families and their communities. They need to be supported and supported properly. That’s what this is about.”

That’s not how Fedeli sees it, however, as through a release he states “This is continued fearmongering and politically-motivated rhetoric from the usual critics. OHCU/CUPE’s comments are based purely on speculation, while our government focuses on the facts. The fact is this – the health care budget is being increased $1.9 billion, including an additional $384 million for hospitals.”

He continues “Here in Nipissing, our government has demonstrated its commitment to ending hallway health care by providing more than $4.5 million in added funding for the North Bay Regional Health Centre this past year.”

Hurley says however that they care about giving people the care they need.

“We represent 10 people who work in this program,” Hurley states. “We have a contract with the hospital and it will help the employees to be placed in vacancies at the hospital. We aren’t raising this issue today because we are worried these people will be unemployed. We’re raising them because these people are distraught that their life’s work of turning around people with addiction is at threat here.”

“The impact of these closures is that there will be a huge increase in human suffering, fatalities, and damage to families and communities,” Hurley continued. “That’s really what this is about.”

- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -
- Advertisement -

Continue Reading