UCSD Health’s 230 layoffs spark safety, staffing concerns amid union opposition
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Diverging Reports Breakdown
UC San Diego Health faces backlash over layoffs of 230 workers
The layoffs, announced on Monday, represent about 1.5% of the health system’s workforce. UC San Diego Health says the decision was made in response to mounting financial pressures caused by “federal impacts to health care, regulatory uncertainty, and rising costs of providing care.” The University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union disagrees, alleging that critical staff were let go with little warning and, in some cases, were told to leave mid-shift without a proper handoff of patient care responsibilities. The union claims the layoffs affect key clinical positions that are already in national shortage. At UCSD’S Hillcrest hospital, the report notes, 5.6% of emergency room patients left without being seen in 2023.
SAN DIEGO — UC San Diego Health has laid off approximately 230 employees across its hospitals and clinics, a move that has sparked immediate criticism from labor representatives and raised concerns about patient safety and staffing levels.
The layoffs, announced on Monday, represent about 1.5% of the health system’s workforce and include a range of frontline healthcare providers — among them pharmacists, clinical social workers, and clinical laboratory scientists. UC San Diego Health says the decision was made in response to mounting financial pressures caused by “federal impacts to health care, regulatory uncertainty, and rising costs of providing care.”
In a statement, the health system emphasized that affected employees would receive full university benefits and access to transitional career support. “We are grateful for the tremendous contributions of our affected employees,” the release read. “We continue to support an agile and resilient workforce of more than 14,000 team members who provide access to safe, reliable and high-quality patient care across the region.”
But the University Professional and Technical Employees (UPTE) union disagrees. In a counterstatement, UPTE denounced the layoffs as both unjustified and dangerous, alleging that critical staff were let go with little warning and, in some cases, were told to leave mid-shift without a proper handoff of patient care responsibilities.
“UCSD’s announced layoffs do nothing to alleviate the existing staffing crisis impacting patient care,” said Sam Warsh, a clinical dietitian and member of UPTE’s bargaining team. Warsh described the case of a social worker who was reportedly dismissed immediately, without completing patient notes or transitioning their caseload—raising serious concerns about continuity of care.
According to the union, the layoffs affect key clinical positions that are already in national shortage. They claim the health system’s own staff have warned that reductions in clinical laboratory services could increase the risk of diagnostic errors. “70% of medical decisions are based on clinical laboratory results,” the union pointed out.
While UC San Diego Health cites “severe financial constraints,” UPTE questions the institution’s financial narrative. The union notes that there have been no significant federal funding cuts to UC, and the most recent state budget proposes a 5% increase in UC’s base funding. They also point to a $20 million loan UC San Diego Health recently extended to Palomar Health—fueling speculation about a potential acquisition—as evidence of misplaced priorities.
“These layoffs are not about money,” the UPTE statement argued. “They reflect a broader trend of prioritizing expansion and investment over staffing and patient safety.”
A recent UPTE report titled Misplaced Priorities highlights systemic underinvestment in frontline staff across the UC system. At UCSD’s Hillcrest hospital, the report notes, 5.6% of emergency room patients left without being seen in 2023—more than double the statewide average.