The reductions have been called a blow to healthcare in the province
Following through on a March mandate by the Progressive Conservatives to cut management staff by 15%, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) and Prairie Mountain Health are joining other health agencies in cutting management positions this week.
At least 197 positions — 132 at the WRHA, 24 at Prairie Mountain Health, 19 at Southern Health-Santé Sud, and 22 at four other health agencies — will be affected, according to CBC News.
Managers at WRHA and the Northern Health Region were notified Tuesday about which jobs would be affected. The WRHA said it would “ensure access to personal and professional support services” by working with affected managers.
“They are valued colleagues and we are grateful for their service,” a spokesperson told the news service.
The WRHA added that those laid-off would be notified in person and patient care would not be impacted by the cuts, which are projected to save the health region $10 million annually. “The decision to delete positions was made carefully, and with the intent to ensure care to patients and families would not be compromised,” the spokesperson wrote.
In an email to CBC, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson said choosing which positions to eliminate was “difficult and not made lightly.” She added that “[a]ll staff leaving the organization as a result of the streamlining are being treated respectfully, fairly and in accordance with human resources best practices and applicable legislation.”
The Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority said it would proceed with the 15% cut of non-unionized management positions, but did not say right away when employees would be notified.
The province-wide management cuts to health authorities, as well as to Diagnostic Services Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, were first announced mid-March by the government. NDP health critic Matt Wiebe has since spoken out against the reductions, calling them a “blow” for healthcare in the province.
“At a time when the government has caused so much disruption and confusion in the system, they are also firing people who support patient care,” he said, referring to a government decision to shut down some emergency rooms in Winnipeg.
“The Pallister government must stop imposing its arbitrary and ideological austerity agenda on families and must reverse the cuts that will profoundly damage the health-care system for years to come,” he said in an emailed statement.
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At least 197 positions — 132 at the WRHA, 24 at Prairie Mountain Health, 19 at Southern Health-Santé Sud, and 22 at four other health agencies — will be affected, according to CBC News.
Managers at WRHA and the Northern Health Region were notified Tuesday about which jobs would be affected. The WRHA said it would “ensure access to personal and professional support services” by working with affected managers.
“They are valued colleagues and we are grateful for their service,” a spokesperson told the news service.
The WRHA added that those laid-off would be notified in person and patient care would not be impacted by the cuts, which are projected to save the health region $10 million annually. “The decision to delete positions was made carefully, and with the intent to ensure care to patients and families would not be compromised,” the spokesperson wrote.
In an email to CBC, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Penny Gilson said choosing which positions to eliminate was “difficult and not made lightly.” She added that “[a]ll staff leaving the organization as a result of the streamlining are being treated respectfully, fairly and in accordance with human resources best practices and applicable legislation.”
The Interlake-Eastern Regional Health Authority said it would proceed with the 15% cut of non-unionized management positions, but did not say right away when employees would be notified.
The province-wide management cuts to health authorities, as well as to Diagnostic Services Manitoba, CancerCare Manitoba, and the Addictions Foundation of Manitoba, were first announced mid-March by the government. NDP health critic Matt Wiebe has since spoken out against the reductions, calling them a “blow” for healthcare in the province.
“At a time when the government has caused so much disruption and confusion in the system, they are also firing people who support patient care,” he said, referring to a government decision to shut down some emergency rooms in Winnipeg.
“The Pallister government must stop imposing its arbitrary and ideological austerity agenda on families and must reverse the cuts that will profoundly damage the health-care system for years to come,” he said in an emailed statement.
Related stories:
Health Minister Jane Philpott eyes digital healthcare revolution
BC physicians struggle as province faces healthcare worker shortage
