After state budget cuts to hospitals, officials at the Western Connecticut Health Network say there will likely be cuts in staff and services over the next two years at Danbury and New Milford hospitals.
In the state budget recently passed by legislators for the 2014 and 2015 fiscal years, Â roughly $550 million in funding was cut from hospitals, which equates to about $30 million less in funding to the Western Connecticut Health Network.
“We do not know at this time the severity or timing of these actions,” said John Murphy, president of the health network, in a letter to hospital employees. Â “Please be assured we will be thoughtful in our approach, thorough in our consideration and respectful in our implementation.”
Hospital representatives had previously warned legislators of the possible consequences of state budget cuts, however Budget Director Ben Barnes strictly denied the notion that the cuts would somehow put the hospitals in a difficult position.
Citing hospitals’ high returns on investments, significant profits and outside donations, Barnes said the state’s hospitals should be able to absorb the spending cuts.
