Parking rates going up at the hospital

North Bay Regional Health Centre
News Release

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Officials at the North Bay Regional Health Centre Monday announced they will be working to eliminate $14M, or 6% of its annual budget, by March 31, 2014.


One way to help is through increased revenues from parking. Effective June 1, parking rates at the hospital’s main sites in North Bay and Sudbury (Kirkwood Place) will be increasing from $2 per hour, maximum $5 per day; to $3 per hour, maximum $6 per day. Monthly parking rates are increasing by $4.10 from $33.90 per month to $38 per month, which is the same as our monthly employee rate.


“In 2003, we noted that parking rates would stay the same until one year’s occupancy was completed in the new health centre,” said VP Corporate and Support Services, Dave Smits. “We recently reviewed current parking rates at comparator hospitals in the province and found that the rates varied from $5 - $10 per day with the average being $6.84/day and monthly rates varied between $22.50 to $90 per month with the average being $53.46. Our new rates are within the low end of these ranges and comparable to hospitals and other public parking rates in the north east,” explained Smits.


President and CEO, Paul Heinrich praised staff for achieving a balanced budget for 2012/2013 fiscal year and stressed the need for this diligence to continue.


“I am very proud of our staff,” said Heinrich. “Due to their hard work to find $2M in savings since December, we believe we have successfully achieved a balanced budget for March 31, 2013; and in order to meet our target of a further $14M in savings opportunities before end of March, 2014, we will need to continue with this proactive approach.”


This past year management staff has been reduced by two VP positions, two managers and two supervisors and the recent skill mix review in mental health resulted in unionized staff being reassigned to best meet the needs of patients.


“We expect you will hear a lot about us in the news over the next year as we work to recalibrate our programs and services and staffing levels to ensure we are doing the best we can with what we have,” Heinrich further explained.


“We will be looking for ways to generate revenue, redesigning programs and services and working with our community partners so patients receive the right care by the right staff with the right skills, and at the right time and place,” stated Heinrich.


Under current collective agreements any shifting or reassignment of staff means layoff notices get issued even though reassignment options are available. In fact, on any given day NBRHC has between 60 – 70 vacancies.


“While the hospital anticipates this to be a year of much change,” noted Heinrich, “we expect that positions will be found for most if not all staff who wish to continue working at NBRHC.”


A strategic planning process is nearly complete and includes consultations with stakeholders and community partners. The strategic plan will cover the next three year’s work and lays the groundwork necessary to increase patient access to care; eliminate waste and make wise choices; work with partners to offer the best service within the confines of organizational budgets; and work with staff to ensure patients are getting the right service, by the right staff, at the right time. The Board will release the plan at its annual general meeting in June.


“The health care system is changing and dollars are being shifted from inpatient care to outpatient and community services,” explained Heinrich. “This shift means we need to change the way we do business while ensuring high quality care and service continues to be provided to patients. New dollars will not be issued to hospitals that continue to struggle with deficits, so it is in everyone’s best interest that we balance our budget in 2013/2014,” he added.

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