Friends of the Ajax Pickering Hospital

68 Hills Road, Ajax, Ontario L1S 2W4

March 17, 2008

Rik Ganderton

President and C.E.O.

Rouge Valley Health System

Rouge Valley Centenary

2867 Ellesmere Road

Toronto, Ontario

M1E 4B9

Dear Mr. Ganderton,

During the past week the Friends have been hearing some very disturbing rumours concerning the future continuation of Mental Health Services at the Ajax Pickering Hospital. Consequently, the Friends are requesting an urgent immediate meeting with you to get specific clarification about the continuation of Mental Health Services at the Ajax Pickering Hospital. The people of our communities deserve to know now, and before March 25, 2008 and March 31, 2008 exactly what decisions are being made not only for the hospital Mental Health Services, but also how the proposed budget cuts will affect other hospital services and staff at the Ajax Pickering Hospital. Please call 905 683-2003 to arrange such a meeting.

In addition, the Friends strongly urge you to recommend to the Board that the Board create a Community Advisory Group as outlined in recommendation twenty-four of the Peer Review Report. The Friends will gladly participate in the work of such an Advisory Group. An Advisory Group will provide important community advice and input to you and the Board. This on-going community input will help to avoid unsound decisions being made on hospital services by the Board before the public becomes aware of such decisions, and the impact and implications for local hospital services on the people of our communities.

Thank you for your attention to these issues that are so important to the people of our communities.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Bosch Bill Parish

Co-Chair Co-Chair