About 350 people packed the Huntsville Active Living Centre to hear details of the three scenarios being considered for future delivery of hospital services in Muskoka.
Option #1 – Two full service, acute care sites, which would see both the Huntsville and Bracebridge hospitals redeveloped on their current sites. Estimated cost: $540,920,200
Option #2 – Centres of focus with emergency departments, that would see both hospitals maintained but some programs and services would be offered at only one site. Estimated cost: $440,666,200
Option #3 – One acute care hospital, newly constructed and relocated as neither present site is conducive to a new hospital build. Estimated cost: $395,688,500.
Featherstone explained that the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care would pay for only 90 per cent of the cost of building and none of the costs associated with furniture, equipment, lot preparation etc. Under that arrangement Featherstone estimates that the local community would have to pay for about 24 per cent of the cost of the project. That’s close to $95 million on the least expensive scenario.
Hospital CEO Natalie Bubela, promised the crowd that at this point “no decisions have been made.” Bubela is hoping the board will have enough information to make a model decision by May.
MAHC is asking your opinion – Which model(s) do you feel you can support. To view the slide presentation visit mahc.ca. To provide feedback go to mahc.ca/planning-for-the-future.
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