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"We Were Not
Consulted", Psychiatrists Claim
Referring to the plan to
close 20 beds at the RVHS Ajax-Pickering site, four
psychiatrists working at the Rouge Valley Ajax-Pickering
site wrote in a recent letter to the RVHS Board that "contrary
to what has been said, we were not consulted regarding
this decision."
Calling the proposed move
' premature', they express the belief that "the
safety of patients will be compromised."
The four signators of the
letter feel they have received contradictory
information on the cost savings involved.
Citing the lack of
alternative care facilities in the Durham Region, the
psychiatrists requested that the Board to reconsider its
decision.
Another letter came from
E. Arfai, a Whitby psychiatrist in private
practice. In it he described the prospective
move as " a drastic regressive step in the care of
mentally ill patients." See his letter here.
Both letters were
distributed to a public forum held in Ajax on April 10,
2008.
See the Rouge Valley
doctors' letter here.
The wisdom of children:
"We need mental health
services like we need air"
(Emily, age 11, child advocate at April 10th meeting)
for further
background consult the archives.
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April
10 Public Meeting to Discuss Cutbacks at
Ajax-Pickering Hospital
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Most Vulnerable ' Victims' of Hospital
Cutbacks
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Rouge Valley HS Ordered to
Consult on Planned Mental Health Services Move
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Expanding
population - Dwindling Services
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Loss
of Hospital Services in Ajax-Pickering a Real
Possibility?
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Friends letter to Rik Ganderton re. rumours of cutback
to Mental Health Services at Ajax-Pickering Hospital
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Board
Plan booed; Discussion Cut Short
Public Outraged Over
Proposed Mental Health Bed Move
Officials
of the RVHS and the Central East LHIN came under a
blistering public attack last night for budget-slashing plan to move mental health
service beds from the Ajax-Pickering site.
At a forum, attracting more than
1000 residents, held at the Ajax Community Centre, speaker after speaker
rejected the proposed cutbacks. No citizens rose to defend
the plans.
There were calls for resignations,
salary cuts for officials and accusations of mismanagement
and contradictory planning moves.
Several patients related personal
accounts of the compassionate care and high quality of
facilities currently offered
at Ajax and pleaded they not be axed.
Donna Binns, a recent patient,
stated "it means so much to the people who use
them. Don't take the beds away."
"You are using the people with
the most to lose to shield yourselves from your own
mistakes," claimed Cadence Grace, a Whitby resident.
"If you all take a salary cut, you could save a
million dollars a year," she said to a cheering
audience.
Bill Parish, Co-chair of the
Friends, pointed out that the proposed move of beds is
actually and loss of 29 beds to the community if
government-approved additions are considered.
"You are breaking the
law", he claimed in reference to the process followed
by the RVHS Board and the Central East LHIN to develop their
deficit reduction scheme. "The legislation requires,
not suggests, but requires you consult the public beforehand
and you haven't done it," he proclaimed to loud applause.
Ontario Public Service Union
representatives echoed the claim long asserted by the
Friends and threatened a court case over the issue which
threatens the loss of nursing positions.
Many in the audience expressed the hope that the Board
and LHIN will reconsider and back off what are clearly
highly unpopular proposals.
"Consultation is not 'educating' the people to
accept what you want after you've made up you mind",
said one unidentified audience member. "It's about
listening and responding to concerns. The question is now
'where do we go from here'? This fight isn't over."
11/07/2008
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