'No right to play God': Seniors coalition says health cuts cause deep anxiety

A coalition of seniorsis speaking out against cuts to health care that itsays will have a devastating affect on seniors and pensioners.

Members of a ad-hoc group called theCoalition ofPensioners,Retireesand Seniors Organizationssaycuts to long-term care facilitiesannouncedMonday are causing deepanxiety among seniors especially those who arebeing told they will have to move.

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"I wonder who gives those people whether its the CEO of Eastern Health, the Minister of Finance, or the Premier of this province the right to play God and tell them where they are going to live for the rest of their days?" said RalphMorrris, a coalitionspokesperson.

"To me they shouldn'thave that power and theyshouldbe ashamed of what they are doing."

The seniors and pensionerssay health care was already broken and underfunded before the cuts. They say the message from health authorities Monday underscores those concerns.

"Theyare taking about minimal numbers of layoffs in those healthcare institutions. Are thehealthcare institutions so understaffed that they can close facilities and nobody loses their jobs?" asked Morris.

"If they find places to employ those people, then how grossly understaffed were the other facilities out there to begin with?"

Morris saidpensioners and seniors arecalling foran independent assessmentof the system and believeit would finda lot of waste and inefficiency.

"Because what front line workers are telling us is certainly not what we are hearing from the administrative levels," he said.

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Morris saidthe pensioners' association is starting a cross-province tour to hold meetingswith seniors.

The first meeting is scheduled forStephenville on May 1.

The seniors are also meeting with members of the provincial and federalgovernments in late April.They want to make sure the next part of the budget process in the falldoesn'tleave seniors in this province with even fewer services.