Media Advisory - Movement of hospital services to private clinics is dangerous and expensive - union will tell legislative budget committee

NORTH BAY, ON, Jan. 20, 2014 /CNW/ - Michael Hurley, president of the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU) of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) will present on Wednesday, January 22 at 11:00 a.m. to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs, at the Ontario budget consultations in North Bay. The hearings will take place at the Best Western Hotel, 700 Lakeshore Drive.

Hurley will tell the committee that "the movement of surgeries and procedures to private clinics will be much more costly and result in higher death rates. It will lead to smaller community hospital closures and open the door to corporate delivery of these procedures. Ontario health policy also exploits personal support workers (PSWs) as sweatshop labour in an under-resourced home care system, leading to a 60% annual turnover in caregivers and is unsustainable." 

Hurley will ask for the cancellation of regulations which move core hospital work to private surgery and procedure clinics, which will destabilize many local hospitals and increase health risks for patients. "Studies clearly show that private delivery of healthcare results is more expensive while, ironically, providing inferior care and higher death rates. Ontario must reconsider its ideological bias towards private sector delivery. Superior patient care outcomes are provided, much more affordably, through public delivery ".

SOURCE: Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (CUPE)

Michael Hurley, President, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions (OCHU/CUPE): 416-884-0770
Stella Yeadon, CUPE Communications: 416-559-9300