St. Joe’s Hamilton cuts 24 positions, restructures staffing

St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton has announced the elimination of 24 positions in an effort to offset a nearly $18.7 million deficit from the last fiscal year.

“We are currently forecasting a deficit for the 2026-27 year. As a result, we must make difficult but necessary decisions to strengthen our financial sustainability and protect our ability to continue delivering high-quality care for our community in the years ahead,” Dr. Mike Heenan, president and CEO of the hospital network, said in a statement.

Heenan said the hospital has identified an extra $5.3 million in operational savings, $1.4 million involving administrative savings including supplies and $3.9 million related to staffing.

“In total, 11 vacant positions and 13 non-vacant positions will be eliminated for a total of 24. To help offset any further pressures on our budget, we have identified an additional $1.1 million in new revenue-generating initiatives,” he said.

Over the past year, St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton studied their patients’ specific needs to ensure they have enough and a variety of health-care workers available.

The review showed that while their patient care remains high-quality, they still need to better match their staff to their patients’ specific needs. As a result, they are updating the clinical staffing plans in a few departments.

“These changes will result in a reduction of 57 positions (ONA) with an associated reinvestment of 80 positions (16 ONA, 52 CUPE and 12 OPSEU), resulting in 23 additional positions in areas of critical need,” Heenan said.

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He said that in some areas, the hospital will be increasing the proportion of registered practical nurses and personal support workers who will use their skills to provide high-quality, compassionate care alongside registered nurses.

But Heenan said that in other areas, they will increase the total number of registered nurses who will continue to focus on the most acute and complex patients.

Union representatives have been notified of these changes and will follow collective bargaining agreements in implementing them.

“For those staff impacted, we anticipate many will be able to maintain employment at St. Joe’s in other positions that are currently vacant,” Heenan said.

“Other staff will be offered early retirement options. In the case of staff who will be ending their employment, we will ensure they have the necessary supports in alignment with collective agreements and employment contracts,” Heenan said.

“The decisions are difficult, but we are confident they will not reduce access to services or impact our ability to deliver exceptional care as we continue to work with Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health on their hospital sector stabilization plan.

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