ELLIOTT SAYS MCGUINTY LIBERALS SHOULD INVEST,
NOT DISMANTLE, DURHAM HEALTH CARE
MPP outraged that health services are
being
shipped out of fast-growing region
(Queen’s Park) – Progressive Conservative MPP Christine Elliott (Whitby-Oshawa) asked Minister of Health George Smitherman yesterday why the in-patient mental health unit at the Ajax hospital of the Rouge Valley Health System was being uprooted and shipped out to the Scarborough site.
“How can you possibly justify the closing of an entire in-patient mental health unit in Durham region, one of the fastest-growing areas in Ontario?” charged Elliott. “To suggest that a person from Clarington is going to go to Scarborough for treatment is completely unrealistic.”
Media reports this week revealed that the Rouge Valley Health System is being forced to make significant cuts to balance their books that may result in nurses being laid off and bed closures. Elliott said she was shocked that even though Durham is the one of Ontario’s fastest growing regions, the McGuinty Liberals are removing health resources instead of investing in the region’s health care.
“Lakeridge Health Oshawa is the only other place in Durham region with in-patient mental health beds. They’re currently operating at 100 per cent capacity and they send their overflow to the Ajax hospital,” Elliott pointed out. “Balancing the books is important, but putting vulnerable, ill people at risk is something altogether different.”
“The solution here is very simple. The McGuinty Liberals can actually keep a promise and designate health care funds based on population growth to ensure the Ajax hospital doesn’t have to close their in-patient mental health beds,” said Elliott. “Residents of Durham region deserve timely and accessible health care. After five years in office, it’s about time the McGuinty Liberals provided at least that.”
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For more information:
Christine Elliott
MPP Whitby-Oshawa
(905) 430-1141
