Group accuses Ontario of under funding hospitals
Ontario says it's increasing health-care funding by $1 billion in 2016
Windsor is short nurses because of systemic under funding from the province, according to a new report from the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions.
The group compared funding data across the country and found Ontario provides far less hospital funding than other regions, which results in fewer hospital staff and more patients being readmitted.
In Windsor, that means hospitals have 234 fewer nurses and 696 fewer people providing care that's needed, according to the Fewer Hands, Less Hospital Care report.
Ontario's Ministry of Health did not reject the report's results, but outlined its own list of figures that shows an increase of funding across the province this year.
Comparing regions
The hospital unions study compares provincial funding, staffing, nursing, and readmission figures from the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Authors of the report say Ontario funds hospitals at a rate of $1,395.73 per capita. The rest of Canada, excluding Ontario, spends $1,749.69 per capita.
Officials from Ontario's Ministry of Health responded with their own list of figures, saying they are increasing health-care funding by $1 billion in 2016.
Hospital funding across the province will increase by $345 million, while another $270 million will be spent on home and community care.
"We know that many Ontarians would prefer to receive their care outside of the hospital and in their homes and communities where they are more comfortable," according to a statement issued by the ministry.