The Quebec government has reportedly told the McGill University Health Centre it needs to cut back, not just in spending, but also in the number of patients.
According to the Montreal Gazette, there are too many cancer and emergency-room patients being treated within the hospital network and the Health Department is demanding doctors send some elsewhere.
To make its point, a source within the hospital told the newspaper the government is refusing to fund more than $10 million in costs associated with the volume overruns. That is on top of the more than $28 million in budget cuts that could result in staff or hour reductions.
The superhospital ER appears to be the main source of the extra cost, with the department still seeing volumes 30 per cent higher than expected.