After a lengthy period where hospitals appeared to be more interested in regional cooperation than formal mergers, the trend appears to be shifting again.
The financially stressed Scarborough Hospital has been looking for a dance partner for some time, initially proposing merger with Toronto East General Hospital. When that initiative spectacularly fell apart, the Central East LHIN directed the hospital to look closer to home at the Rouge Valley Health System which maintains a hospital on the eastern part of Scarborough and another in Ajax.
Our initial thoughts were that a formal merger would be very unlikely. After crawling out of their own significant financial difficulties, Rouge has been running surpluses for several years. It has also had to contend with rapidly growing demand on the Ajax side – the eastern GTA among the fastest growing regions in the province. Would they really want to take on new financial challenges that a merger with Scarborough would bring?
Both Rouge and Scarborough have been bruised by past battles with their communities over changes to clinical services. OPSEU even took the Central East LHIN to judicial review in 2008 over the secretive nature of its decision-making process when Rouge failed to consult on changes to its mental health services.
During those earlier battles Rouge Valley admitted to the Durham Regional Council that community opposition to their plans had made a dent in the ability of their foundation to raise money. Durham Region at that point had been considering withholding contributions (it didn’t).
Things have certainly changed.
The process at this stage appears to be an open one and perhaps even a partial model for other hospitals considering merger. A web site has been set up including an on-line survey. 16 community town halls are taking place. Staff town hall meetings are even being shared on YouTube by Rouge Valley. Staff who cannot attend the town halls are being invited to communicate during “huddles” in patient areas. Three tele-town hall meetings are being planned for September and October. Fifteen working groups have been set up between the two hospitals – 11 for front line clinical services and four looking at back office functions. The discussions from these groups are being shared in on-line workbooks that the public and staff can further contribute to.
The problem at this point is that everything is very vague – as one would expect early in the process. There are few concrete proposals to react to, and the hospital has suggested that many decisions may not even happen until a merger has already taken place and a new board appointed — including which services get offloaded to community-based providers. That may not satisfy those worried about loss of jobs, services and relocation of clinical care. Before a final recommendation is made, staff and the community should have an opportunity to look and respond to the proposed detailed plan. The hospitals have promised that the community will have an opportunity to respond should a recommendation come forward for merger.
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OPSEU Diablogue 