More cuts could be coming to the MUHC.
CTV Montreal has learned that the hospital must cut $28 million from its budget.
Some employees have been told it could mean re-organizing units, including cutting staff.
At this point precisely what will be cut has not been finalized.
"We are renegotiating contracts. We are reviewing, for example, paid premiums for managers and staff. We are reviewing a whole lot of measures in order to find the $28 million," said Richard Fahey, the director of public affairs for the MUHC.
A source told CTV that the MUHC may cut the equivalent of 1.5 nursing positions on the surgical oncology-gynecology floor. That's the equivalent of five 12-hour shifts.
This is a floor where patients, including those with cancer, recover from surgeries. There are three recovery pods with 12 patients each and three nurses per pod. With cuts, that would mean there will be one less nurse to cover all 36 patients.
The MUHC said it is required to make the cuts in part because of cost overruns in the first year of the move to the Glen site.
For instance, in order for the Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital to function independently from the Royal Victoria Hospital, when the Royal Vic moved to new site, it was required to undergo renovations to the Neuro which cost $2 million. It only received $1 million back from the government.
"It was the year of the move. There were a lot of expenses associated with that," said Fahey.
The MUHC patients' committee is worried about how budget cuts will affect the care delivered at the Royal Vic and the other hospitals in the Glen complex.
Amy Ma said the previous round of budget cuts left the Royal Vic's ER struggling to cope.
"It's due to a number of issues, not just budget cuts, but definitely if there is more budget cuts down the pipeline that's not going to help the situation," said Ma.
Health Minister Gaetan Barrette said it was an unfortunate situation, but pointed out the MUHC is responsible for its own administration.
“There are no hospitals in this province, whether they are university hospital or community hospitals, that are allowed to go over its budget. It's as simple as that and the MUHC has a history of going over its budget,” said Barrette.
The MUHC said it is looking at determining ways they can increase efficiency and cutting staff is one possibility.
Meetings are planned next week between unions and administration.
The nurses' union has not commented on the matter.
The news of cuts come the same week the government announced a surplus, which it is in large part planning reinvest into health care.
