Over the last ten days or so, there has been a flood of media activity related to the hospital situation in Muskoka. Some of it is reasonable, helpful, and encouraging, and some of it is not.
One of the more reasonable statements that has been written recently is by Rod Ward, the Mayor of Armour Township at the far northern end of the Muskoka-East Parry Sound hospital catchment area. Under the present plan from Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC), people in that area would have at least a 45-minute drive for day surgery and many diagnostic services. But they are not complaining.
You can read his entire article HERE, but I want to highlight some of what Mayor Ward said. Regarding the current state of hospital discussions, he said, “Quite frankly, the negativity and, in many cases, lack of proper context are both troubling.”
Mayor Ward also says, “There is so much incredible, positive work going on in the healthcare arenas and in our communities that relies on the coordination and collaboration of countless stakeholders. This work falls apart with partisan battles, community borders and, dare I say, politics. We’re moving forward in the Almaguin Highlands and we support the hospital redevelopment as part of this move forward in healthcare. The model is imperfect and will continue to require adjustment… but the opportunity in front of us is the key thing”
I agree with that point of view, and I believe we should all try to learn from it.
As our MPP Graydon Smith pointed out in one of his most recent statements, we in Muskoka and Almaguin are in an enviable and unique position. We have a firm financial commitment from the current provincial government that is larger on a per capita basis than anywhere else in Ontario. We really do not want to blow that commitment due to the communities in Muskoka and East Parry Sound’s inability to find hospital solutions that we can all accept.
One of the problems is that many people are still focusing on what they believe was a commitment for two acute care hospitals in Muskoka of equal stature, both providing the same services for their catchment areas. Whether that was actually what was promised or not, or whether it was just what we all wanted to believe, is now academic because as the economy has tightened, so have available funds for healthcare. The reality now is that while the principles of acute care and equality between hospital sites in Muskoka remain, both providing the same services within 20 miles of each other is simply not viable and is not going to happen. If blaming someone for that is helpful, so be it, but it is not going to change anything. It is time to move forward.
Instead, we have this tremendous opportunity to create state-of-the-art hospital facilities on two hospital campuses in Muskoka, providing enviable hospital services equal to those of communities with many times the population of Muskoka and East Parry Sound, even when including seasonal residents.
But first, we have to get beyond the partisan battles, bickering, and misinformation that often accompany them. These are occurring both in Bracebridge and in Huntsville.
Numerous online statements have stated that the proposed plan for Huntsville will not be an acute care site and that all surgery will be performed in Bracebridge. This is not correct. Under the plan, day surgery will take place in Bracebridge, and more extensive surgery requiring hospital care exceeding three days will take place in Huntsville.
There has also been criticism of Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock for being at the table to ensure superior hospital care for the entire catchment area and not just advocating for Huntsville. But that is exactly where she should be so that a plan can emerge that will be seen to be fair to all communities, including those from Algonquin Park, much of the Township of Lake of Bays, Huntsville, and East Pary Sound, all of whom are part of the Huntsville hospital site catchment area.
Because of the misinformation and opposition coming from both Huntsville and Bracebridge, Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith authored an extensive statement that was posted on Friday.
Here is one of the things he said: “It bears repeating here, clearly and as definitely as possible: the residents of Muskoka and Almaguin will be getting two new, acute care hospital sites. The funding for these projects is not going anywhere. Our government is committed to making this redevelopment project a reality.”
He also says, “I know that this plan has its supporters and detractors. The former want me to issue a declarative statement of support and say, “get on with it.” The latter would prefer that I denounce the plan and call for it to be scrapped. Unfortunately, the division between these two positions presently lies geographically between north and south. I do not, however, believe either of these positions is helpful in arriving at a solution that works for everyone.”
There is no question that Graydon Smith and a number of municipal leaders have been working behind the scenes to find overall acceptance of an effective hospital plan. That is why one other statement in Smith’s article is really important: “I believe finding a solution is closer than many may think. I also believe it need not take too much time.”
If you have not had the opportunity to read Graydon Smith’s latest statement, it is well worth the read. You can read it HERE.
In my view, the MAHC plan needs some adjustments, especially to address the concern for additional beds in Bracebridge. But otherwise, I do believe both hospital sites have been treated fairly. Bracebridge will have a full emergency department and some ICU beds and will be primarily responsible for all outpatient care. Huntsville will deal with more specialized issues and diagnostic procedures, many of which will require more in-patient care and, thus, longer hospital stays. They will also have full emergency services.
I know there is some concern in South Muskoka that with more beds, Huntsville could one day become the only hospital site in Muskoka. With all of the money being thrown at the principal of two acute care hospital sites in Muskoka, I do not think that will ever happen. More importantly, the trend for hospital care is moving more toward what can be accomplished on an outpatient basis with less emphasis on beds. From that perspective, Bracebridge is well-positioned in the current plan.
I should also add that making MAHC the bogyman is not helpful. Certainly, the road has not been smooth and, in some cases, not well thought out. Gaslighting the sitting member of the legislature by bringing forward a motion to approve their plan without first briefing him is a rookie mistake that clearly put Graydon Smith between a rock and a hard place.
But we should remember, too, that this is not Toronto talking. MAHC Board members are our neighbours who serve without compensation and with a genuine desire to provide first-class hospital care to every community in their catchment area. We can disagree with them and negotiate with them, but we should not degrade them. They are not the enemy.
And so, my plea here is: Let’s all take a deep breath. Graydon Smith has committed to continuing his work with MAHC and municipal leaders to achieve a solution that is fair to all communities. He believes an acceptable solution is near at hand. Let’s give him a chance to bring that to a conclusion.
It no longer requires threatening demonstrations or negative rhetoric. It requires leadership and a joint determination to find an acceptable solution to a complicated issue.
There is work to do to get the South Muskoka community onside. It should not be done at the expense of other communities, but where accommodation can be made to address their concerns, it should be considered.
Let’s put aside the parochialism, antagonisms, demonstrations, unhelpful rhetoric, and misinformation and concentrate on getting this deal done.
Otherwise, we will all lose out.
Hugh Mackenzie
Hugh Mackenzie has held elected office as a trustee on the Muskoka Board of Education, a Huntsville councillor, a District councillor, and mayor of Huntsville. He has also served as chairman of the District of Muskoka and as chief of staff to former premier of Ontario, Frank Miller.
Hugh has also served on a number of provincial, federal and local boards, including chair of the Ontario Health Disciplines Board, vice-chair of the Ontario Family Health Network, vice-chair of the Ontario Election Finance Commission, and board member of Roy Thomson Hall, the National Theatre School of Canada, and the Anglican Church of Canada. Locally, he has served as president of the Huntsville Rotary Club, chair of Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, chair of the Huntsville Hospital Foundation, president of Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and board member of Community Living Huntsville.
In business, Hugh Mackenzie has a background in radio and newspaper publishing. He was also a founding partner and CEO of Enterprise Canada, a national public affairs and strategic communications firm established in 1986.
Currently, Hugh is president of C3 Digital Media Inc., the parent company of Doppler Online, and he enjoys writing commentary for Huntsville Doppler.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox three times per week!
Click here to support local news
From where I live in Utterson it takes 15 minutes to get to Huntsville Hospital, it takes 18 minutes to get to Bracebridge Hospital.
I don’t think that that difference is enough to warrant any further delay in the process.
Depending on where you are in Bracebridge or Gravenhurst you may be sent to Orillia, often we go to Orillia for certain imaging and I’ve had to go to Sudbury and Toronto for surgeons.
Focusing on the matter of how far or where you may be treated is less of an issue than the lack of doctors.
Someone can correct me if I’m wrong but the recent survey information that I have read indicates we are at least 2600 family doctors short of a bare minimum even if we count the fact that the ones we have are overworked.
We have 2.5 million people in Ontario without a family doctor!
At a very recent conversation with a specialist in Gravenhurst I was told that he felt bringing in and retaining health care providers in Muskoka is one of the largest roadblocks. That and the government refusals to accept that more doctors are required in this area and to provide adequate funding for them.
Most people don’t realize that a practitioner with their own office is responsible for the costs associated with it and that’s a big chunk in a high rent or buy locale such as Muskoka.
Providing signing incentives may be a short term solution but long term maybe we should have been giving these doctors offices.
The Waterloo center in Huntsville could have fit the bill but that ship has sailed.
Mr. Clement provided the means to Huntsville to move ahead and they blew it.
I think our health care system requires funding more desperately than we need a new highway.
Food for thought.
So when do we get to the real building? Lots of us are almost beyond needing these new hospitals. With the idea of work beginning in six or eight or ten or even twelve years or so. Maybe at ninety two I’ll be in need of a few adjustments. Might need a hospital?
We play cards and visit in both Gravenhurst and Bracebridge, and have seen the flyers and posts and such. Supposedly the plan proposed will have the sites as halves of the whole. Somebody sure doesn’t see it that way.
On Monday I walked Huntsville’s Main Street from ‘Floral Vista’ to the ‘Swing Bridge’ (see the app)*. Didn’t see any posters from the “North Muskoka Advisory Committee” (read doctors) nor did I get any bites when I mentioned this hospital thing to people.
“There is work to do to get the South Muskoka Community on side.” I think there was also a recent commentary stressing the need for leadership. Now, this is a real opportunity for someone to earn their spurs.
* Huntsville and Area Historical Society has a new “Huntsville Heritage Walking Tour” app for your ‘phone. The formal launch will be at Partners Hall on July 24 from 6 to 8 in the evening. Please drop in and see what we’ve done.
As someone who lives in South Muskoka I’ve never heard anyone say that they want the new Bracebridge hospital to have the same number of beds as Huntsville. It is about a viable, local doctor supported hospital for the long term. (MAHC’s original proposal was for 18 beds in Bracebridge and 139 in Huntsville.) I too think we should lower the rhetoric, statements like – “We really do not want to blow that commitment due to the communities in Muskoka and East Parry Sound’s inability to find hospital solutions that we can all accept”, only raise the temperature of what should be two sister communities supporting the long term well being of all of us.
A very good article showing some common sense in what has been (from my position) an intentionally divisive situation. Why have people been so confrontational? Is it mostly ego, or power politics? Everyone seems to want everything from what I have been reading and that is just not going to happen.
Lack of support from so many doctors in the south is a huge barrier, that cannot be discounted. Upping the bed count to 36 in south Muskoka seems to be insufficient to their estimate of patient needs. It is looking like the local shares from all areas will need to be increased significantly to meet South Muskoka asks. With the District now having another look at conditions for support, I am wondering if anything will happen for redevelopment plans in my lifetime. I hope the roof does not collapse in the meantime. Will Muskoka find it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain young medical professionals, so facing the closures that other rural hospitals are now experiencing?
A well written article. I believe the members of MAHC board are highly qualified and well meaning. I also believe that the members should be elected from the public they serve. If the board members are elected by the public they serve , then when they make a decision we would have to live with it. Also MAHC needs to be more transparent. For example show the public the engineering study that proves it is less expensive to build new rather than “renovate” our existing hospitals.
Hugh thank you for bringing Minister Smith and Mayor Ward’s comments and commitments into this weeks commentary, along with your own well thought out perspectives.
It is time that all members of MAHC quit squabbling like children in the school yard and get behind a solid plan to bring great healthcare to all the patients of our great Healthcare region.
I am sure many older mothers remember when you spent most of a week in the hospital when you had a child, we needed a lot of beds then, now you are out the next day unless there are some very complicated problems. I could go on with many examples, but reality is that medicine has moved forward in leaps and bounds, even day surgery doesn’t necessarily require a bed but for a few minutes while the anaesthetics wears off. We treat beds like the number indicates how great the hospital is.
What determines a great hospital is the Doctors, Nurses, Technicians and state of the art equipment that helps all of these professionals do their best to get us diagnosed, dealt with, and back home or back to work.
It appears to me that we have all the answers for now to send the plan to the government.
Medicine does not stay static, it will continue to evolve, our health care will need to evolve with it.
My wife’s Grandma Hooper always said take the tarts when they are passed, because they may not come back again, the Province has a very large plate of tarts for our healthcare needs, let’s not let someone else pick that plate clean while we continue to squabble on who is getting the most. This is much bigger than Bracebridge or Huntsville, we will all be better off with expanded healthcare.
I think your commentary is right on. From the first time the plan was announced, I thought the model was pretty close to the mark. I did think there were some items that were not fully thought out such as the transportation plan. Historically the rivalry between Bracebridge and Huntsville has been epic and this has played out the same it always does. It needs to stop. The one thing I don’t understand is the opposition from the south Muskoka hospital doctors. Their mantra of more beds and equal number of beds doesn’t make sense to me given the advances in health care and the more to out patient services. The status quo isn’t working, why would they think it will in the future. What is their full agenda?