HHS to cut over 413 positions including 143 nurses

Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) is cutting 413 jobs, including 143 nurses, to help offset a projected $150 million budget deficit for 2026-27, which reflects a refined estimate of their financial position.

HHS says in addition to $40 million of cost reductions achieved last year, further action is required to operate within the funding available to them.

It says it has established savings targets of two per cent for clinical budgets and five per cent for administrative budgets for the 2026-27 fiscal year.

The organization says the 413 jobs that need to be reduced will affect both union and non-union positions, of which one-third or 157 are currently vacant. HHS currently has 557 vacancies across all job categories in the organization.

Several administrative functions are being restructured to reduce costs and reflect changes in how work is performed.

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HHS says it currently expects a reduction of about 97 clerical positions, along with other administrative job impacts.

This is in addition to the 10 per cent reduction in their IT workforce implemented in July, which eliminated about 20 positions.

Changes are also required within their clinical workforce. Some staffing capacity introduced during and after the pandemic was established to respond to exceptional circumstances and is not supported by ongoing funding.

The organization says at this stage, it estimates reductions of about 143 nursing positions and 84 health care aide positions, across both full-time and part-time roles.

It says these numbers may change as detailed implementation work continues. Given the high number of nursing roles and current vacancies at HHS, few if any individual nurses will leave HHS.

HHS says a reduction in positions does not mean the same number of employees will lose their jobs and that employees directly affected will be contacted as individual decisions and timelines are confirmed.

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