AJAX - Apr 29, 2008 OPSEU is initiating the
first test of the legislation establishing Local Health
Integration Networks in 2006.
The union is asking the Ontario Superior Court
today to prevent the closure of inpatient mental health beds at
the Ajax-Pickering Hospital until a Judicial Review can take
place. The injunction hearing is scheduled for May 16.
The union is arguing the Central East Local
Health Integration Network acted improperly in making the
decision behind closed doors and without community consultation,
contrary to the Local Health System Integration Act.
"If the LHIN had done its job, it would have
learned of the harm the closure represents to mental health
patients in the West Durham community," says OPSEU President
Warren (Smokey) Thomas. "It's clear the LHIN board made the
decision without understanding the full impact on the
community."
The Rouge Valley Health System and Central East
LHIN revealed in late March the plan to close 20 acute mental
health beds in Ajax and establish new medical/psychiatric beds
at Centenary Hospital, 23 km away in Scarborough.
At an April 9 public meeting scheduled to
discuss implementation of the plan, a thousand Ajax residents
turned out to ask the LHIN to reverse its decision and save the
beds. Thousands more are expected at a community march planned
May 3 from Ajax City Hall at 12:30 Noon.
The union is asking that the Local Health
Integration Network suspend the decision until full public
consultation takes place.
"When the rubber hits the road, the LHINs owe it
to their communities to provide real input on decisions that
directly affect health care delivery in the community," says
Thomas. "This LHIN has already damaged their credibility by
acting in this manner. They have admitted they handled this
badly. It's time to fix their mistake."
