Cuts to service taking place at Horizon Health

"With fewer people now to do the work, how can it be more efficient?” — Susie Proulx-Daigle, NBU President.

Fredericton (05 Feb. 2014) — Horizon Health is making cuts to front-line staff which will impact hospitals in Saint John, Moncton and Fredericton. 

Horizon Health is cutting eight jobs and eliminating five others in the radiology and nuclear medicine departments. Officials have said that the cuts are made to streamline and increase efficiency, saving the health authority over $500,000 a year.

Little reason has been provided for cuts, says NBU President

President of the New Brunswick Union (NBU/NUPGE) Susie Proulx-Daigle says there's been little reason given for the cuts.

"That's all they've told us so far, that they're benchmarking in different areas of the hospital to look at how services are delivered in the hospital, and from their exercise, these are the results," said Proulx-Daigle.

Despite assurances by health authority that patient care will not be effected, the public will feel the affect on care levels

The health authority says patient care will not be affected by the cuts, but Proulx-Daigle says it's inevitable there will be longer wait times.

"How can it not have an impact on patient care?" she said. "They're cutting the front-line services, ultimately increasing wait times, so we just don't understand how it cannot affect the system."

"These are front-line workers in X-ray and one in nuclear medicine. It also raises serious recruitment and retention issues. Our members in these areas tell us they’re very busy and already felt their departments were short-staffed. With fewer people now to do the work, how can it be more efficient?”

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE