Patient care at risk as more layoffs announced for Hamilton hospitals

Union representatives and patients affected by the latest round of layoffs in Hamilton hospitals are voicing their concerns following the announcement of major job cuts.

As CHCH News first reported last week, Hamilton Health Sciences (HHS) plans to cut 413 positions, including 143 nursing jobs. 

The network includes Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster Children’s Hospital and Juravinski Cancer Centre in Hamilton, as well as West Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Grimsby, Ont.

Staff, patients and visitors alike are raising alarms, warning that nurses are already overworked and that any cuts will directly impact patient care.

“I think it’s really sad. I think people, first of all, need the work and they need more nurses and staff,” said one visitor outside Hamilton General Hospital today as patients and visitors reacted to news of the upcoming reduction in hospital personnel.

“I’m a patient now, but I’ve been a visitor other times and I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” said another patient. “I think it’s great care. I consider it to be one of the pinpoints of the community.”

“It’s heartbreaking to see what’s going on in these hospitals,” another individual noted. “There is not enough care now as it is.”

“I think we are going to be left without any nurses. That’s what I think,” added another.

Hamilton Health Sciences is cutting 413 jobs, including 143 nursing positions, to help offset a projected $150-million budget deficit for 2026-2027. The organization says the workforce reduction will affect both unionized and non-unionized staff.

“That’s a lot of healthcare workers when we are already in a crumbling system,” said Jill Watt, the local union president.

Watt warns that patients will feel the impact of the decision.

“We see that the quality of care is not how it could be,” Watt said. “We hear from individuals who are waiting in the ER for 21 hours, we hear individuals are sleeping on a stretcher in the ER for days, or sitting in a chair waiting on surgeries that keep getting postponed.”

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

In a statement provided to CHCH News, Hamilton Health Sciences said it has a strong track record of operating efficiently.

“Rising costs and growing demand for care require further action to operate within the funding available to us,” HHS said. “We expect reductions in our workforce as we work to reduce expenditures and achieve financial balance. One-third of the impacted jobs identified are currently vacant. Our priority is to protect access to high-quality care and the specialized regional services HHS provides.”

The union, however, questioned how remaining staff will manage the workload.

“Where is the work going to go?” Watt asked. “Because the work still exists, we just don’t have the individuals to perform the work.”

The Ministry of Health told CHCH News today they are spending over $101 billion on the healthcare system this year, which includes a four per cent increase in hospital funding for a fourth consecutive year.

The union pushed back against those figures.

“It’s not enough, for one,” said Watt. “For two, where is it going? Is it going to infrastructure? We are expanding the Hamilton General ER — who is going to work there? Is it expanding it just to create more hallway beds?”

One visitor summed up the community’s frustration: “It’s usually the patients that suffer, the families that suffer.”

A healthcare rally will be held outside Hamilton General Hospital on Oct. 13 at noon, with organizers inviting the public to attend and show support.

READ MORE: HHS to cut over 413 positions including 143 nurses