The latest job cuts at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance (CKHA) may not be the last.
Eight managerial positions were eliminated earlier this month, with the hospital's leadership exploring additional ways to reduce a multi-million dollar deficit.
The CKHA's deficit is currently around $5 million.
Adam Topp, CKHA president and CEO, said it'll be almost impossible not to look at job cuts as the majority of expenses are salaries.
"I think there may be other positions, non-management positions, that may be announced, but I don't have any details on those at this point," he explained.
The hospital's leadership hopes that attrition and cutting vacant positions will help them avoid making tough decisions.
When asked if the hospital could withstand any deficit, Topp argued it couldn't, as it is being forced to dip into its cash flow. He explained this was delaying much-needed repairs and purchases.
"Everything from fixing front doors to buying X-Ray machines, (and) buying fluoroscopy machines, we can't make those investments if we're running deficits," said Topp.
A large chunk of the deficit has already been eliminated. In 2024, it was sitting at over $13 million. Topp said funding from the Ontario government helped with most of the $8 million saved, with around $1 million specifically coming from the managerial cuts.
The goal is to reduce the deficit to zero within the next three years.
