The West Nipissing General Hospital could face big cuts according to the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.
President Michael Hurley says the hospital could suffer the loss of nine to 19 positions and the closure of two to four beds.
The WNGH currently has 258 employees.
Hurley says it’s all because of the Tory government drive to cut spending by $4 billion dollars and cut taxes by $7 billion.
He says there’s no way the new government can meet these election promises without cutting the health budget.
He says the possibility of the cuts is not good for the WNGH which operates regularly at 100 percent occupancy and has seen that rate climb to 115 percent.
Hurley also says the Mattawa hospital could lose up to seven workers and one of its beds.
He says those numbers might not seem like a lot, but for a small community like Mattawa where the hospital is in high demand, the numbers are huge.
Hurley says hospitals have been underfunded for years, especially those in the north and rural areas.
He says they need a 5.2 percent increase just to prevent local cuts.
Hurley says the North Bay Regional Health Centre could see 37 bed closures and the loss of 156 employees.