Hospital workers union says province playing political favourites with funding

Unions representing hospital workers across the province fear inadequate provincial funding is affecting patient care.

And they believe politics is playing a role, as some Northern Ontario hospitals are getting more than others. 

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions told CTV while most hospitals only received a 2% funding increase, the Sault Area Hospital received 3.8% bump.

The council suggests that's because of the provincial by-election set for next week in in Sault Ste. Marie.

“All these hospitals have the same problems,” said Michael Hurley, Ontario Council of Hospital Unions president.

“They're all struggling with overcrowding. They all have access pressures and they all need to be funded at their real cost, which, according to the financial office of accountability, is closer to 5%. We understand the government's political imperative to make more generous announcements in Sault Ste. Marie, but there are no less pressing needs in any of these other northern communities and they also need their needs met.”

The Ontario Council of Hospital Unions is holding a major rally in Sudbury on June 8.

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  Michael Hurley said hospitals need a funding boost of about 5%.