Listen Up! A little help for Santa when compiling the naughty or nice list

Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler

Naughty or Nice …

It is that time of year again. Somewhere well North of here, old St. Nick is getting ready for his annual sleigh ride around the Globe. And we all know that means he is checking his list, some say twice, to find out who has been naughty and who has been nice. So, I thought perhaps I could help him a little this year with a few thoughts about who deserves presents under the tree and who does not. Here goes.

NAUGHTY: Sorry Santa, but I am afraid that a big lump of coal is all you can deliver this year to Muskoka Algonquin Health Care, known around here as MAHC. They run our two hospitals and I am still not convinced that they will keep their promise of two, fully acute-care facilities in Muskoka, with neither being subordinate to the other. But that will all come out in the wash. What has me really ticked off at the moment, is their failure, after two years, to appoint a permanent Medical Chief of Staff, especially when the ideal candidate has been staring them in the face. Here’s the skinny on that.

About two years ago, Dr. Jan Goossens, a Muskoka Internist, based in Huntsville, resigned as Chief of Staff of MAHC. The Hospital Board appointed an Acting Chief of Staff and advertised to fill the position. Few people stepped forward which is perhaps understandable given the turmoil under which MAHC has operated in recent years. In fact, my understanding is that when the competition closed, there was only one candidate and that was Dr. Roy Kirkpatrick. That was well over a year ago.

In the event that you do not know Dr. Kirkpatrick, Santa, here is a brief background. He has been a surgeon in Huntsville for 30 years. He is highly regarded by medical staff in both Huntsville and Bracebridge. His expertise is in demand all over the place. He sits on the Specialty Education Committee and Regional Advisory Council of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario. He is also an Independent assessor for them. Roy Kirkpatrick is an Associate Professor for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Indeed, he was a key instigator in getting much of their program started. He has worked in various parts of the world with the Canadian Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders. He spent two years in New Guinea as a medical volunteer with CUSO International and he continues to provide surgical services to remote areas in Canada’s Northwest Territories. That Santa, is the Cole’s Notes version.

So, what seems to be the problem here? MAHC has sat on Dr. Kirkpatrick’s application for more than a year, only advising him in recent weeks that they do not want him. One has to wonder why? There can be no question about his qualifications. His skill set and leadership qualities are known, valued and appreciated, well beyond Muskoka. MAHC still does not have a candidate they like. Instead, Dr. Baggio Iannantuono, is entering his third year as Acting Chief of Staff. This is the same Dr. Iannantuono by the way, who has been disciplined by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario and who has said publicly that there should only be one door to surgery in Muskoka and that door should be Bracebridge. Go figure Santa.

The MAHC Board needs to tell us what is really going on. The community has a right to know and so does Dr. Kirkpatrick. Is it because he is not from Bracebridge? If that is the issue, say so. Or could it be that Roy Kirkpatrick does not have a reputation as a “Yes” man; that he may, as Chief of Staff, tell the Board what he believes they need to hear, rather than what they want to hear? How refreshing would that be? We know of at least two former Board members who did that and look where they are now? And so, Santa, until we get some real answers from the MAHC Board, I am afraid it is just coal for them this year!

ANOTHER NAUGHTY: I don’t think Muskoka District Council deserves too much this year either Santa. You know I think they are too fat, too bureaucratic and too unaccountable. Well now they have formed a new Committee, that replaces an old one. It is called the Health Services Department. I’m not sure if they are trying to take over the whole ball of wax of health services in Muskoka, but it wouldn’t surprise me. They do like to expand. Is control of Fairvern next?

They have a new Commissioner for their new department. His name is Norm Barrett. He seems like a good guy and well qualified. One thing he is quoted as saying disturbs me though. He said, “the focus right now, is building the administrative base of the Health Services Department”. Here we go again!

But I would go easy on the coal with them Santa, as they did do something nice. They donated a surplus ambulance to a third world country where it is badly needed. It’s a nice gesture. So maybe give them a small gift!

AND A NICE: It may be a little premature, but Christmas doesn’t come around again for another year, so please give Fowler Construction a prominent place on your “nice” list. You may recall that snow plowing on our Highways in Muskoka has for the past several years been done by Carillion and folks were not very happy with the job they did. In fact, their contract was finally cancelled and the work was awarded this year, to Fowler, whose headquarters are in Muskoka.

What a difference a year makes Santa. We have already had two pretty good snow storms this month; somewhat early for us, but Fowler was ready and on the job. The highways are in great shape. I know people who travelled South during one of the storms and when they hit Muskoka coming back, the roads were clear and clean. Many folks have made similar remarks. That’s a big deal up here Santa, so please put something really nice under Fowler’s tree this year.

That’s it for now Santa. Just a few suggestions. But please put me on your “nice” list too. After all, again this year, I will have the good Scotch out for you, when you come on Christmas Eve!

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