The two hospitals sent the notice Friday to the Central East Local Health Integration Network.  Between them, TSH and RVHS employ more than 6,100 staff on three campuses in Scarborough and one in Ajax.

It was the Central East LHIN last March which ordered TSH and RVHS to study some form of merger, and in November boards of both hospital approved a full merger in principle. In a statement, the hospitals said they expect a final decision on a merger, to be made at special meetings by the boards and members of both hospital corporations, within two or three months. The LHIN, which has agreed to pay $3.8 million for the study and "due diligence" work still underway, will receive the hospitals' decision, which the province's health ministry must either refuse or approve.

The hospitals have said the LHIN or ministry should pay the one-time costs of a merger and start planning for the possible redevelopment of hospital campuses in Scarborough and expansion of hospital services in Durham Region. TSH and RVHS have also pledged none of their campuses or emergency rooms would close and no medical programs would be moved between Scarborough and Ajax.

Details on the merger are at a joint website for the hospitals, www.leadingforpatients.ca