Hospital injunction hearing cancelled
DURHAM -- A judicial review on the removal of 20 mental health beds from Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering hospital will take place this July.
A court injunction scheduled for Friday, May 16, has been cancelled after parties agreed to expedite a judicial review on the issue on July 11. The injunction - filed by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union - was scheduled to assure services would remain in place at RVAP until a judicial review takes place. OPSEU sent out a press release Wednesday indicating RVHS said the services will remain, so the date was cancelled.
OPSEU is challenging the Central East Local Health Integration Network’s decision to approve the transfer of 20 mental health beds from RVAP to Centenary hospital in Scarborough, arguing the LHIN failed to meet its own mandate when it failed to consult the public before the decision was made.
“This was a poor decision that will adversely affect patients in West Durham Region,” said OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas in a press release. “Had they taken the time to consult with the community, the LHIN Board would have likely come to a very different decision.”
The press release says RVHS still plans to carry through with layoff notices, but if the court decides in the union’s favour, the notices could be rescinded before the five-month notice period ends.
OPSEU is also challenging RVHS president and CEO Rik Ganderton to say just how the bed transfer to Scarborough will save the health system money (the health system is $78 million in long-term debt and capital deficiencies). OPSEU believes RVHS has not looked at full costs of the move such as recruitment, severance, and transportation of patients and their families between the two sites.
“We said two years ago that the LHINs would make people travel further to access health services,” said Mr. Thomas. “At that time we were accused of fear mongering. Today we are seeing the beginnings of it played out across the province, including Ajax-Pickering. This is an issue that should be important to all Ontarians, not just those living in West Durham.”
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