The Interprofessional Health Federation of Quebec is urging MUHC management to disclose how it intends to implement $28 million worth of recently announced budget cuts.
Federation president Regine Laurent said there has been a lack of transparency and she fears the cuts will hurt patient care. She also accused the provincial government of participating in the silence around the cuts.
Among Laurent’s allegations are that cuts to the budget for cleaning operating rooms has led to a rise in infections and that staff training in MUHC palliative and oncology units have been scrapped.
“The MUHC only opened in 2015 and since then, we haven’t even reached 2017, there have been cuts of $60 million,” she said.
“Despite what our health minister is saying, it has an impact on care and our ability to properly act at the MUHC,” she added, pointing to work overloads for staff and a rise in absenteeism.
Union of Nursing and Cardio-Respiratory Professionals of the MUHC President Denyse Joseph said there has been a change of culture in management, which has closed the dialogue.