Live: Chat about health care issues in Quinte

By Bevan Hamilton and Jordan Merkley

BELLEVILLE – With the future of local hospitals hanging in the balance, healthcare is a hot-button issue in Quinte region calling out for an opportunity to debate what is going on.

Join QNetNews journalists Bevan Hamilton and Jordan Merkley as they host a live online chat with special guest Katherine Stansfield, Quinte Health Care vice president and chief nursing executive.

On March 4, Quinte Health Care announced budget cut proposals that would see cuts to 39 jobs at local hospitals.

As QNet News reported, before anything is finalized, union leaders from Ontario Nurses Association, the Ontario Public Services Employees Union, Service Employees International Union and Unifor have had time to respond to the cutbacks to give alternative proposals to minimize the impact on individuals. The hospital must finalize its budget by April 1.

QHC has already made $7 million in budget cuts. Over the past 3 years, it has removed a total of $20 million in costs. This came after a new funding formula implemented by the Ministry of Heath to help create a more sustainable health care system and reduce the deficit.

Our TMH, a citizen’s group set up to help save Trenton Memorial Hospital, are worried their hospital will be closed after the cuts were announced.

Some of the issues discussed will be how the proposed cuts will affect Quinte hospitals, how the hospitals will change and how the cuts will affect patients.