Our local health unit is reducing programs and services because of a funding shortfall.
Huron Perth Public Health officials say one-time COVID-19 funding allowed them to redeploy up to 78 per cent of their staff to respond to the pandemic while also hiring some additional staff.
Now that the funding is no longer available, HPPH officials say there’s a $1.5 million funding gap that’s accumulated over the past five years and that’s led them to reduce their staffing levels by around 10 per cent.
It’s being done through retirements, layoffs, and the ending of some temporary contracts which will impact programs and services.
The reductions are occurring through a combination of attrition, early leave incentives, and two layoffs:
1 Program Manager
1 Public Health Dietitian
0.5 Administrative Assistant/Program Support for 2024 (becomes effective mid-year)
1 Program Evaluator
4.4 Public Health Nurses
3.6 Public Health Promoters
1 Community Developer
1 Online Communications Coordinator
The measures are expected to be in place by January with more information about specific changes to be communicated as they are implemented.
