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The
Corporation of theTown of Ajax
Resolution
April
14, 2008 Council
Moved
by: C. Jordan
Seconded
by: J. Dies
WHEREAS
the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) has required
Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs) and hospitals to submit
2008-2010 Hospital Service Accountability Agreements (HSAAs),
including deficit elimination plans by March 31, 2008; and
WHEREAS
the Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) HSAA calls for the closure
of the Mental Health Inpatient Unit (20 beds) at its
Ajax-Pickering Hospital (APH); and
WHEREAS
these actions were approved prior to real and meaningful
consultation with local residents, patients, stakeholders and
employees as required by provincial legislation and LHIN policies;
and
WHEREAS
mental health is one of the Central East LHIN's top priorities,
and accounts for 18 per cent of the visits, one in seven
hospitalizations and one third of all days in hospital; and
WHEREAS
the closure of the APH Mental Health Inpatient Unit will make it
difficult, if not impossible, for West Durham residents to access
emergency and core mental health services; and
WHEREAS
the closure will create undue hardship for those who face
transportation barriers, placing stress on an already overworked
ambulance service; and
WHEREAS
as late as December 2007, the RVHS planned to increase the number
of APH Mental Health Inpatient Unit beds to 29 to meet the growing
population of West Durham; and
WHEREAS
the Federal Advisor on Healthy Children & Youth states that
psychiatric disorders are the single most common illness among
adolescents, and predicted to increase by 50 percent by 2020, and
only one in five children who require mental health services are
currently able to access them.
NOW
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Ontario Government, Joe
Dickson, M.P.P. for Ajax-Pickering, Wayne Arthurs, M.P.P. for
Pickering-Scarborough East, and Christine Elliott, M.P.P. for
Whitby-Oshawa, urge the RVHS and Central East LHIN to immediately
rescind their decision to close the APH Mental Health Inpatient
Unit; and
THAT
the Province direct the RVHS and Central East LHIN to identify new
operational efficiencies that maintain core local health services,
and provide the resources required to support and protect these
critical services; and
THAT
the RVHS and Central East LHIN be ordered to undertake real and
meaningful public consultation prior to developing and approving
priorities for the delivery of health services at the APH; and
THAT
the Province immediately designate APH a full-service hospital,
and prohibit the continuing attempts to transfer much needed core
local health services from APH to the Centenary Hospital; and
THAT
the Province reverse its decision to merge Centenary and APH,
maintaining two unique hospitals responsive to the needs of their
respective communities; and
THAT
the Province introduce much needed population-based funding for
GTA hospital services to recognize present and future growth in
West Durham which has a projected population of 500,000 by 2021;
and
THAT
the Councils of the City of Pickering, the Town of Whitby and the
Region of Durham and the GTA 905 Healthcare Alliance be urged to
endorse this resolution; and
THAT
a copy of this resolution be forwarded to Premier Dalton McGuinty,
George Smitherman, Health Minister, John Tory, Leader of the
Opposition, Howard Hampton, NDP Leader, Joe Dickson, M.P.P. for
Ajax-Pickering, Wayne Arthurs, M.P.P. for Pickering-Scarborough
East, and Christine Elliott, M.P.P. for Whitby-Oshawa.
I
declare the resolution carried.
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