12 p.m. update:
Alex Lambert, chief executive officer of Group Health Centre, says more layoffs are possible, in addition to the 50 employees laid off today.
"Yes there may be more as we continue to review our operational needs, particularly given most of our physician visits have been moved to ‘virtual’ for the time being," he tells SooToday.
Lambert says the layoffs announced this morning do not include physicians as they are independent medical practitioners, not employees.
"We do not anticipate any physician offices closing," Lambert said, nonethless noting that GHC physicians are facing significant service level reductions before of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, the Ontario Medical Association said as many as half of Ontario doctors report they may be forced to close their practices at least temporarily because of compensation issues.
As for today's 50 layoffs, Lambert says: "We have looked to each discipline’s individual associations or governing bodies for direction, in conjunction with advice from the Ministry of Health, as well as public health."
"Most of the direction involves guidance as to what ‘non-essential’ or ‘non urgent’ services should be deferred during the pandemic, in order to limit the risk of unnecessary exposure," Lambert said.
Original information:
Group Health Centre will lay off as many as 50 of its 312 employees today due to what chief executive officer Alex Lambert calls "a significant decline in services due to COVID-19."
Lambert tells SooToday the temporary layoffs are "due to a significant decline in services due to COVID-19, resulting from closures or reductions in certain departments following recommendations from relevant colleges and associations."
"The layoffs are expected to last less than three months, and the GHC is making efforts to support laid-off staff with additional financial supports and benefits to mitigate the financial impact to them and their families," Lambert says.
Group Health Centre is not considered part of the province's hospital, public health or long-term care sectors and is therefore not eligible for emergency support or funding from the province.
"We are in a similar situation to other community-based primary and specialty care practices in Ontario that are also experiencing layoffs at this time."
"While this is something we had hoped to avoid, it is fortunately temporary, and we look forward to bringing all staff back and re-opening services for the community as soon as we can," Lambert tells us.
