Management asks staff to turn off lights amid budget cuts
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The chief executive of The Alfred Hospital, Andrew Way, admitted to staff today that the hospital’s budget was “significantly less” than they had planned, in a leaked email obtained by former 3AW broadcaster Neil Mitchell AO.
The email said the health service was doing everything it could to minimize the impact on patients and staff, saying they would have to “stop things that (they) were able to do” before.
The email also emphasizes the importance of exercising financial discipline.
One example includes only recruiting critical roles, reducing transportation costs, and simple things “like turning off the lights when (you) leave the room.”
Northern Health and Western Health, two of the state’s largest health services, have also introduced cost-saving initiatives, according to The age.
Both services, which each run several hospitals and health centers, have announced hiring freezes.
A spokesman for Alfred Health said they would continue to work with the Department of Health to finalize the 2024-25 budget for the health service.
“Recognizing the difficult budget environment, we are reviewing all aspects of our operations, including corporate and internal services,” the spokesman said.
“Our priority is to minimize the impact on patients and support our specialist staff.”
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