Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) delivered its plan for service delivery in the region to a spirited capacity crowd at the Bracebridge Sportsplex on Tuesday night.
There was a significant contingent in attendance, both inside and outside the 300-seat auditorium, with the majority seemingly in opposition to the new plan. Those speaking out included doctors (both retired and practicing), the head of the Nursing Association of Ontario, the Mayor of Bracebridge and members of the public and healthcare professionals.
The evening got off to a rough start as many of those who arrived with the expectation of taking part in the meeting were left in the cold when the meeting reached capacity some 45 minutes prior to the 7 pm start time. MAHC said they would host another meeting in Bracebridge at some point to speak with those who were unable to attend this meeting.
CEO Cheryl Harrison took the crowd through a PowerPoint presentation outlining the proposed changes to service delivery. Staggering post-pandemic inflation has driven a 50% increase in healthcare construction costs, said Harrison, which means MAHC cannot afford to build their facilities exactly how they are today.
Under the new plan, the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital will have 139 acute care beds and South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH) will have 14 beds. Both facilities will have 24/7 emergency rooms with SMMH increasing emergency room beds from 11 to 17. Bracebridge will lose obstetrics but Harrison said the site should see 2,000 more visits a year.
She said there would need to be some type of transportation between the Huntsville and Bracebridge sites.
Mayor Rick Maloney addressed the hospital board and told them they needed to find a way to address the crowd that wasn’t allowed to attend the meeting. He also said the community of Bracebridge does not support the plan.
“The plan misses the mark in many areas. It’s raised a lot of concerns and fear,” said Maloney. “There is far too much at stake to not get this right.”
Maloney said the chance to receive a $1 billion investment in Muskoka is an incredible opportunity but the plan shouldn’t be rushed.
“We can’t submit a plan that’s not fully supported,” said Maloney. “I urge you to slow the process down.”
MPP Graydon Smith seconded the notion of slowing down when he addressed the crowd at the conclusion of the meeting.
“It’s clear that people want more time. Passions run deep for good reasons,” said Smith.
The former Mayor of Bracebridge, Smith was an outspoken opponent of a single-facility model that was proposed and rejected in 2015.
Smith drew jeers when referencing Doug Ford’s love for the Muskoka area, but said he would fight at the provincial level to ensure Muskoka maintained its place in the queue for hospital project funding.
Concerns from speakers included the current lack of staffing and selection of the Pine Street location for the new hospital, to the alleged intimidation and suppression of MAHC staff concerns.
“No one’s coming to work in this toxic environment,” said local resident Phillip Hemens, son of Dr. Bill Hemens, who live-streamed the meeting on his Facebook page, watched by those unable to attend or get into the meeting.
Penny Varney, a retired nurse and current Gravenhurst Town Councillor said the proposed model would have a dramatically negative impact on the residents of Gravenhurst and Bracebridge. She said many Gravenhurst residents would end up going to Orillia if the current model were to proceed.
“I’m telling you Bracebridge, you have to fight for this hospital because you’re going to lose out like we have in Gravenhurst,” said Varney.
Town Crier Bruce Kruger said the people of Muskoka had been assured two equal hospitals but this plan was far from the case, especially in light of the removal of obstetrics.
“I’m appalled at the way the women of south Muskoka are being treated. It’s unheard of and it’s disgraceful,” he said.
The final regularly scheduled meeting is set to take place on Feb. 7 in Port Carling.
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John Whitty says
Make no mistake.
The new plan means Bracebridge hospital is closing and Huntsville is expanding.
Muskoka is going backwards from 2 to 1 hospital under this plan.
As Dr. Daniel of Gravenhurst (retired) said in his letter to Ms. Harrison at MAHC reposted on Facebook:
“You can just imagine a scenario when following much hand wringing, MAHC announcing that despite all the best efforts, the Bracebridge site had become unsustainable and would have to close leaving a single site hospital Huntsville.”
The ridiculous new mini hospital for Bracebridge is obviously just a ruse to placate residents in the southern 2/3 of Muskoka and keep donations flowing.
The ruse isn’t working.
No one is buying it.
The mini hospital will likely be cancelled at a later date as it’s not viable.
Leaving Bracebridge with no hospital at all.
The premise that a 60 year old hospital can’t be refurbished is also a ridiculous statement.
Toronto General is 165 years old after many renovations as was pointed out.
Bracebridge has lots of space for a new wing over top of the parking lot.
Assuming underground parking is not possible.
Minimal disruption to the hospital.
Design for multiple stories, some added at a later date.
Including a helicopter pad on the roof, like many hospitals, so the large, existing helicopter landing area can also be developed at a later date.
Going forward, what can you get for $500 million each to Bracebridge and Huntsville?
For a measly $100 million Midland is getting 240 beds and more.
“the $100 million project making room for 240 beds, four operating rooms and the capacity to serve over 70 thousand patients each year, added space that physicians say would be game-changing for patient care.”
Search “Georgian Bay General Hospital looks to future with $100M expansion plans”
The board has to simply look around and see what other hospitals are doing now and in the past and how much it cost.
Don’t believe any of MAHC’s justifications of this flawed plan.
Or any of the costs quoted.
Their inflated cost figures are similar to the new Bracebridge arena debacle.
It was also claimed construction costs have spiraled so it’s costing taxpayers $58 million instead of $18 million after expected funding from the province and the feds didn’t come through.
Yet King township is getting double the facility for only $48 million from taxpayers.
$10 million less for double the facility.
“a state-of-the-art, carbon neutral, fully accessible recreation complex with TWO!! NHL-sized ice surfaces, a six-lane 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool, a multi-purpose athletic fieldhouse, and a multi-purpose community room.”
The Muskoka airport also has gone backwards from 2 to 1 runways after a number of ruses and a plethora of misinformation was presented to council.
Ridiculous costs were also quoted.
One of the ruses was a new runway 12/30 that never was a viable option yet council fell for it.
Hook, line and sinker.
Local pilots were not fooled like most councillors.
The existing, far superior, 09/27 runway was just going to be “moved” to maintain 2 runways at Muskoka as it has been for decades.
Then the new 12/30 was cancelled leaving Muskoka with only 1 runway.
Which means safety and usability are drastically reduced.
Pilots often have to go elsewhere now just like residents in 2/3 of Muskoka will have to go elsewhere with only 1 hospital in Huntsville.
Orillia is closer for many.
Airport management falsely claimed to council it would cost $300K to maintain the valuable into-wind runway.
Actual cost?
ZERO dollars is needed as stated to council in this video by a very experienced pilot and owner of many grass and gravel strips…
Even though councillors are aware they have been misled for years by the airport board regarding 12/30, council is thinking of wasting $343K on those demonstrating dangerous incompetence.
Unbelievable.
A tiny fraction of $343K would restore the safety and usability of Muskoka airport with 2 runways as it has been for decades.
In fact ZERO dollars is needed. Unlike the hospital.
Why is documented misinformation, dangerous incompetence and totally false derogatory statements tolerated at the District?
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/airport-changes-to-cost-an-extra-343200/#comments
Phil Beacock says
First thing that comes to my mind is “ we arent building for the future! Build for the future and it will work! I think of the BFD, new build across from the old town hall, was absolutely the worst build ever. Build for the future not for know. We are a growing municipality! 50% in crease because of the pandemic! BS!
Vicki West says
Mr. Mayor and Counselors, what is your vision of Bracebridge?
I have to ask – what are they doing with the hospital? Who wants to buy it? Are they going to turn it into more LUXURY APARTMENTS, which we do not need!!
“AFFORDABLE” is the word that should be on your lips.
People from Bracebridge and surrounding areas, not to mention the people who have cottages on Muskoka Lake, are going to travel over an hour to the closest hospital? Bracebridge is in the center of Muskoka. It should be renovated to continue servicing the surrouding areas. We will definitely loose doctors and nurses. They will move to Huntsville so they are closer to work or completely out of the area. Bracebridge businesses dollars will go to Huntsville. What other things will we lose.
The “new site” is a joke. What doctor would want to work there? They would not make enough to even buy a house let alone pay off there educational loans. Please leave our hospitals as they are and renovate.
Vicki West.