LENNOX & GÉLINAS: Ford’s cuts leave patients waiting longer and hospitals in debt

QUEEN’S PARK – Dr. Robin Lennox, Shadow Minister for Primary Care, and France Gélinas, Shadow Minister for Health, say the Ford government is pushing Ontario hospitals into financial crisis, after new reporting revealed hospitals are turning to bank loans to stay afloat:

“Ford’s cuts to our health care system are leaving people with longer wait times, more hallway health care, and worse outcomes,” said Dr. Lennox. “Hospitals now owe more than $66 million to banks and are being charged interest rates approaching 10%. Instead of those healthcare dollars going to improve patient care, Ford’s neglect of our hospitals means millions are diverted to banks each year. Doug Ford’s choices are hurting people and unleashing a disaster in our hospitals.”

“This crisis is the direct result of ignorant political choices,” said Gélinas. “Despite laws requiring balanced budgets, the Ford government has allowed hospitals to end the year in the red more than 100 times since 2022. Hospitals are being pushed into debt while patients are treated in hallways, nurses are burned out, and care is being cut.”

“The Minister of Health admitted privately that funding pressures have already severely impacted hospitals’ ability to provide quality care, and yet we see her saying the opposite publicly” said Dr. Lennox. “This government continues to hide the truth about what’s happening in our hospitals. They tout shiny announcements about “capital investments” while hospitals pay millions in bank interest just to survive.”

“You simply cannot build your way out of an operating funding collapse,” said Gélinas. “Promising new beds years from now does nothing for patients stuck in hallways today or for hospitals being forced into debt just to deliver basic care. The Ford government needs to step up and publicly recognize the irreversible damage being done to our public healthcare system.”