Geraldton District Hospital Board Approves 2012-2013 Operating Budget

June 2012

Each year the Geraldton District Hospital formulates an operating budget that determines the day-to-day operations of the Hospital.  This budget is formally called the Hospital Annual Planning Submission and must be in a balanced or surplus position, as mandated by the government.

Last year the government started working on a new funding formula to ensure that cost-effective procedures are practiced in all hospitals.  Thus, some efficient hospitals will receive funding increases and others will receive decreases.  Overall, the increase will be zero.  However, small hospitals are excluded from this new funding formula because of lower volumes of services, which limits the ability to be as cost-efficient as larger hospitals.  Nonetheless, funding increases for small hospitals will be zero, as per the preliminary notice from the North West Local Health Integration Network.

This indeed was a challenge to overcome for the Fiscal Advisory Committee (FAC).  The FAC is comprised of four management staff, one medical staff and three union representatives (ONA, CUPE and CAW), as well as a non-union representative.

The FAC also had other challenges, such as absorbing a 5% arbitration award for one classification within one union, improving security and transforming some nursing services.

Miraculously, after meeting four times over the past three months, the FAC recommended a balanced budget to the Board of Directors.

This was the first year over the last eight years that the staffing level did not increase.  Overall, the staffing level remained the same, although there were a couple adjustments between departments and reclassification of a few positions.

The Board of Directors reviewed the Budget in detail, as recommended by the FAC, and approved it.  The Budget was then downloaded to the North West Local Health Integration Network.  The Network will review the Budget and prepare a 2012-2013 Hospital Services Accountability Agreement for signing at a later date.

Should any individual or group/organization wish to receive more information regarding the 2012-2013 Operating Budget/Hospital Annual Planning Submission, then please do not hesitate to contact Kurt Pristanski 854-4107 or go to the Hospital website at www.geraldtondh.com.

Si vous désirez recevoir ce communiqué en français, veillez appeler le 854-4102.