WRHA freezes spending, hiring, overtime
In a series of internal memos sent to Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) staff, President and CEO Milton Sussman has implemented a number of policies to reduce their deficit.
Effective immediately a hiring freeze has been implemented across the WRHA for non-union positions
hiring for all vacant non-union positions will be frozen until April 1, 2017 for Corporate, Acute Care and Community Care. The freeze can be appealed and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
In the case of unionized positions a second memo states that no new positions are to be created or added, unless baseline funding is in place. It goes on to say:
all programs need to continue to review and confirm whether or not vacant positions need to be filled, even if exempt from these hiring restrictions.
Hiring of Casual and Term employees or Agency and Contract resources, or authorizing overtime as alternatives to filling non-union vacant positions, including backfill for vacancies as a result of leaves, are not permitted unless approved.
Sites and programs are being asked to revisit their .5% expenditure reduction initiatives in order to try and find an additional $4 million in savings in order to hit their target for 2016/2017.
Discretionary spending for non-clinical items or the operation of a site are to be deferred until the next fiscal year. Things like One time furniture and small equipment purchases, New PC’s or laptops, Meal & travel expenses, Advertising and promotional activities, Administrative expenditures and Non-essential building expenditures are on he list.
Overtime is also frozen across the WRHA in all non-clinical roles. “Clinical overtime needs should be reviewed in light of patient care volumes and acuity levels and should be limited whenever possible.” according to the memo.
The memo also mentioned service volumes specifically clinical services funded by Health like cataracts and joint replacements are to be respected but are not to be exceeded without specific prior approval from the WRHA executive.
Calls to the WRHA were not returned.
-News4 Staff-
