Leading for Patients: Online survey seeks community views on possible hospital merger

(September 9, 2013) – Rouge Valley Health System (RVHS) and The Scarborough Hospital (TSH) invite the community to participate in an online survey to express their views on the benefits and risks of a possible merger of the two hospitals.

The survey asks several questions and invites questions from the community. The survey is part of a broad set of stakeholder engagement activities to involve the community and inform the hospital boards in their decision making.

The online survey is now available and can be accessed on the “Leading for Patients” website at: http://www.leadingforpatients.ca/community-survey/.

About the community engagement process

RVHS and TSH are committed to collaborating with staff, physicians, other health service providers, and members of the community to determine how the two hospital corporations can better provide access and deliver an outstanding experience for patients and their caregivers, while building a strong health care system for future generations.

A big part of this stakeholder engagement process is listening to the community, other health service providers, and health care professionals. This process is taking place through to late October.

The findings from this process and feedback on the ideas developed will be shared on the Leading for Patients website: www.leadingforpatients.ca.

It is important to note that a decision to merge the hospitals has not been made. As RVHS and TSH explore how they might work better together, they’ve made the following commitments:

• Emergency Departments will stay open at all four hospital sites;
• No hospital site will close; and,
• Patient care services currently provided at the Rouge Valley Ajax and Pickering site will continue to be delivered there.

Decision-making process

In November, the two hospital boards of directors will evaluate the benefits and risks of a possible merger, including input from the community and all stakeholders. A decision to merge the hospitals would be subject to approval by the Central East Local Health Integration Network Board of Directors and ultimately by the Minister of Health and Long-Term Care.

For more information, please visit www.leadingforpatients.ca.