Grey Bruce Health Services plans to layoff 20 staff as part of a plan to balance the budget.
The 20 staff are from various departments in the hospital — from nurses to clerical staff.
It is one of 160 different measures that have already been introduced or will be introduced in the next fiscal year to balance the budget.
Interim President and CEO Maureen Solecki says it is never a good time to layoff staff — and she hopes they can achieve the layoffs through attrition.
Solecki notes they have not eliminated any clinical programs.
Solecki admits layoffs may have an impact on care, so she says they will monitor indicators closely to ensure there is only a minimal impact.
Other cost cutting measures include scheduling changes and not filling in for vacation or sick leave when possible.
But Solecki says they will also boost revenue by increasing the hours of operation for their ultrasound.
All Ontario hospitals have a legal requirement to balance their budgets.
The projected hospital deficit for this fiscal year is 4.2 million dollars.
The 2007-08 deficit was 2.5 million dollars.
The cost savings initiatives were achieved from work with the group Health Care Management — a company that looks at hospital services.
Solecki says they will review the measures with staff and managers today and tomorrow.
Grey Bruce Health Services will present its plan and proposed balanced budgets to the Southwest LHIN at the end of the month.
The Southwest LHIN still must complete an External Hospital review before the plan is approved.
