/EINPresswire.com/ -- NORTH BAY, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 11/28/15 -- In response to repeated announcements of massive cuts to front-line staff and services in their local hospital, a group of North Bay residents have come together to form a local health coalition. Their first event, a large rally with hundreds of people expected, will be held on Monday. Concerned citizens representing communities across the region will be travelling in to join the rally as they too want to build public pressure to stop the hospital cuts.

When: Monday November 30 at 12 o'clock noon.

Where: Lee Park by the "Gateway to the North" arch, North Bay.

What/Visuals: There will be a "parade of cuts" - a very visual depiction of all the hospital cuts across the region, posters, signs, and a large crowd with music and speakers rallying to take back our hospitals and stop the cuts.

Who: Organized by the North Bay & Ontario Health Coalitions, including seniors, patients, concerned citizens, unions representing workers in the hospitals, health professionals, nurses, faith organizations, social services, students and more. The health coalitions are citizens' groups dedicated to protecting and improving public health care for all in Canada, under the principles of equal access and universal coverage in the Canada Health Act. We are the largest and broadest public interest group on health care in Ontario.

Background: Millions in cuts are slated for this year at North Bay Regional Health Centre, affecting departments across the hospital from emergency, clinical support, laboratory and pharmacy. More than 150 front-line care and service positions are on the chopping block. The cuts are devastating both to local hospital and health care services and to the local economy; and they come on the heels of successive rounds of hospital downsizing. These latest cuts are in addition to the 196 positions already cut in the last three years. Thirty beds or more are slated to be closed. The Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit is slated for closure. More than a quarter of a million of hours of care per year will be lost if these cuts go through.

There are severe hospital cuts happening all across the region. Over the last year big cuts have been announced or are threatened in Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury, New Liskeard, Huntsville, Midland-Penetanguishene, Timmins and many others.

Contacts:
Sue McIntyre, co chair
Niagara Health Coalition
705-493-9114

Natalie Mehra, executive director
Ontario Health Coalition
416-230-6402 (cell)

Kim Johnston, campaign director
Ontario Health Coalition
647-381-7025 (cell)
ohc@sympatico.ca
www.ontariohealthcoalition.ca