From Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) will convene an important Board of Directors meeting on October 10, 2024, during which an essential vote will occur regarding the Stage 1.3 capital redevelopment plan submission to the Ministry of Health. This decision is a pivotal step in MAHC’s ongoing efforts to enhance healthcare services for Muskoka and area through the establishment of two new acute care hospitals.
The board will consider a motion that underscores the Province of Ontario’s significant investment in local healthcare expansion, the comprehensive analyses and consultations undertaken by MAHC, and the commitment to continued stakeholder engagement.
Importantly, the MAHC capital redevelopment steering committee recommends adding 10 new beds to the Bracebridge site, increasing the total to 46. This recommendation comes as a result of extensive stakeholder engagement, demonstrating that MAHC has listened to community concerns and is responding proactively to anticipated future growth. While it extends beyond the current data corridor, it reflects a commitment to high-quality patient care, preserves existing services, and maintains the integrity of the overall plan.
In a letter signed by 45 physicians from South Muskoka earlier today, they expressed support for the proposed plan to add 10 beds at the Bracebridge site, stating that it will sufficiently meet the care needs of South Muskoka residents. M.P.P. Graydon Smith also endorsed the plan, calling it “a tremendously positive development.” Final approval from the board is needed before the proposal can be submitted to the Ministry of Health.
Carla Ladd, Capital Redevelopment Steering Committee Chair and Vice Chair of the Board, stated, “This vote is crucial for the future of healthcare in Muskoka. By moving forward with the Stage 1.3 submission, we are demonstrating our commitment to building a stronger, more adaptable healthcare system that benefits everyone for years to come.”
Board Chair Dave Uffelmann added, “We are proud of the work done to reach this important milestone. The addition of new beds at the Bracebridge site, pending board approval, reflects our dedication to responding to community needs while supporting Muskoka’s growing healthcare demands.”
Board Meeting Details:
- Date: October 10, 2024
- Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Location: Huntsville District Memorial Hospital Boardroom
Agenda Highlights:
- Open Session:
- Welcome and Land Acknowledgement
- Approval of Agenda
- Declaration of Conflict of Interest
- Stage 1.3 Functional Program Review and Discussion
- In-Camera Session:
- Discussion of detailed financial analysis related to the Stage 1.3 submission.
- Open Session:
- Board Vote
The open session will be accessible to the public; however, seating is limited. Attendees must register at least 24 hours in advance. Pre-registration is available at: https://form.mahc.ca/Board-Meeting-Registrations/Board-of-Director-Meeting-Registration.
Following the in-camera session, MAHC will provide an update to the community on the board’s decisions and the next steps in the submission process.
Related
Open letter by South Muskoka doctors to the Board of MAHC | Letters
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 so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Ok maybe im not paying attention but honestly i have no clue what Huntsvilles hospital will have, could someone possibly list what huntsville gets?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Wendy sadly Huntsville is treated like the blacksheep/poor cousin once more although the stats show a whole different story to what we bring to the table. I question the transparency of this whole exercise and does our mpp have our best interests on par with South Muskoka’s !!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mr. Spencer, Huntsville is getting a 123 bed mega-hospital. If you read the statements, you would know that the MPP fought to ensure the South got what it needed to move on and endorse the plan, while making sure Huntsville didn’t lose a single bed or service.
Questioning Graydon’s commitment to the North is ridiculous and not based in reality. Both towns are now winning and we can move forward.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
My thoughts are based in reality Mr. Breen and I questioned Graydon to his face and said these exact feelings i have no ill will towards him. I will wait and see how it all plays out and that those involved insure Huntsville “the North” gets what it needs to move forward. I do not sit glued to media for minute by minute updates so excuse me if i missed seeing the “123 bed Mega-Hospital” you say we are getting!!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Clearly in the MAHC plan even with 10 more beds added to South Muskoka means a loss of beds in the south from what is there now. If you want to see a truly regional hospital check out the new hospital in Ottawa. For 2.8 billion they are getting a 641 bed facility, with all the other things that go with a regional hospital. I divided 641 by 3 and came up with 213. So for 1 billion we should be able to get 213 beds. Maybe we need a new consultant for our hospital rebuild.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mr. Spencer, if you’re that unaware of MAHC’s plan, I suggest you refrain from opining about it on the internet. You just admitted your deep unfamiliarity with the plans for the hospital yet still feel entitled to complain about it and argue that we’re somehow getting shortchanged, despite all the evidence to the contrary.
Are you that preoccupied with “getting what’s ours” that you’ll post to a public forum whilst evidently not knowing much about the topic?
I struggle to comprehend that thought process.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
A Billion!! dollars to go backwards in health care in Muskoka?
Huntsville approves of going backwards?
Or are they just not aware?
Backwards at both Huntsville and Bracebridge hospitals.
The MAHC plan requires Huntsville residents to travel to Bracebridge for short term care.
Unlike now.
MAHC’s dithering has cost the taxpayer hundreds of millions of dollars.
Unacceptable plans presented by them for 12 years, so far, as construction costs have skyrocketed.
They can’t be trusted.
Don’t be surprised the plan in Bracebridge to reduce beds and go all new never happens.
Spend far less money and add wings to the existing sites to improve both as suggested by Dave Wilkin here: https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/mahc/
“This journey started about 12 years ago, and yet, here we are today with no hospital capital upgrades done and fighting again in the community over what is still an unaffordable plan.
If they had listened to our and the majority of community voices back then, and instead of brand new hospitals, they opted for incremental existing site upgrades, we would be well on the way to the much-needed capacity expansion and hospital renewal, at an affordable cost. This is the route the vast majority of hospitals in Ontario take.”
And at Midland hospital.
A big increase in Midland not a big decrease in Bracebridge hospital beds as MAHC has planned.
Search “Georgian Bay General Hospital looks to future with $100M expansion plans”
I understand the $100 M is the local share for 240!! beds.
Allen Markle says
Randy Spencer: I’m with you. 10 or 12 years down the road and everything is as clear as mud. There is some sort of quasi agreement with the ‘battle of the beds’, but who knows really. It seems to play out as a pair of supporting facilities 25 miles apart. Big battle as to who’s the facility and who’s supporting. We’ve heard no end of wailing from the south and almost nothing from the north. Still wonder why.
As for our MPP, I agree with you in that I feel he’s a bit of a homer. Guess that would be a modicum of natural bias and maybe everybody carries a bit of that. But his seemed to be more of a ‘buttinsky’ performance rather than a search for common ground.
These are just my opinions and that’s what people do. Form opinions based on what we’ve seen, read, heard and maybe a bit of….. “I just got this feeling”. What makes one persons opinion more valuable than another is debatable.
In that vein I take umbrage with Jim Breen. This venue or public forum if you will, offers everyone the opportunity to rant or opine or vent or whatever. Within community standards mind you. And it allows everyone to agree or disagree, to the extent of their understanding, with what’s on offer.
We are just spit-balling since none of us sit on the MAHC board that has dribbled this project around for many years. So one man’s opinion carries as much weight as the next. Now if Jim Breen had somebody real important to agree with him, then I guess I’d still have to side with Randy Spencer.
Opinions can be such fickle things. But we did our best forming them and they are our own.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Mr Markle, why would the north be complaining about MAHC’s plan? Remember the original proposal? South gets a 14 bed clinic, north gets a much larger hospital. Fighting to save what someone has is not wailing! Do you remember when the mayor of Huntsville fought to keep a hospital in Huntsville instead of one large hospital centrally located? Was he wailing? The mayors of Huntsville and Bracebridge stood together to fight to keep two equal hospitals. So why isn’t Huntsville fighting to keep two equal hospitals now?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Alan Markle will never let the facts get in the way of his personal bias, evidently.
Has he been paying attention?
$50M from the province to the District for a Huntsville project (the largest infrastructure investment ever). $700K for the family health team from the province. Millions in brand new investment into Huntsville that was never here before. Yet, he has the audacity to assert that the MPP is biased by virtue of where he happens to live. I follow Graydon on Facebook, he’s in Huntsville all the time; putting in the work. I’m not going to hold where he lives against him.
This guy got a deal done that benefits north and south. If you think he wouldn’t have gone to bat for Huntsville/Almaguin if it had erupted in anger like Bracebridge did then you don’t know him.
I was in South River a couple of weeks ago. The people I was with made a point of bringing up that they’ve never seen an MPP/MP around and in their communities as much as Graydon.
Sure, I’m a supporter. But geezus people, he’s delivered the goods for Huntsville and all of Parry Sound-Muskoka unlike any other elected official we’ve ever had. Those are facts. Hard numbers.
Don’t let the malcontents get you down, Grayder! Keep doing what you’re doing and delivering results.
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
Hi Norm Raynor can i be so silly to ask if you still lived in Kearney would you have the same opinion?
Gail Hewitt says
Wendy Brown I live in Burk’s Falls and totally agree with Norm Raynor. Maybe Huntsville should stop whining. We have a Reeve in our area that is so gutless to view his thoughts in Muskoka he has to WHINE to the North Bay news.
Allen Markle says
I’m still not convinced that our two communities require “two new full service hospitals” as was the cry during our past election. The wailing and consternation with the plans submitted by MAHC has been almost continuous since. Where they ‘center’ these two new supporting facilities is kinda moot to me. I live pretty much between them. I’m on the downside of 79, so if they argue and fuss much longer their hospitals may be of little use to me.
I’ve written before and have seen other comments to the effect that we can add to what we have to get to where we need to be. I think our present hospitals just need some additions and modifications. And a little bit of maintenance wouldn’t hurt. Taps don’t have to drip all the time and doors needn’t stick.
An old friend of mine, Bill Frow told me of growing up near Sunnybrook Hospital. Back when cornfields grew and cattle grazed, tight up to the fences. Sunnybrook is still there but a lot bigger than in the late 40s. I just visited St. Joseph’s Hospital in Toronto. It was started by Sisters in 1921. St Michaels is even older and still in the same place. Kingston General, started in 1832 still and operates within original buildings! I looked this up. They are all still there.
So why does Muskoka need “two, new , full service hospitals’? To fulfill a campaign promise? I bet we could add the needed theatres and revisions or additions to what we have and maybe come in under that “billion dollar” sky-pie. And we all know having government estimates is just the prequel to cost over-runs.
Did anyone ever consider just expanding our present facilities? Huntsville has room to grow. I believe I read where someone said Bracebridge could still expand on their site. Why can’t we grow in situ?
Like those other fine facilities?
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
For once I agree with something Allen Markle has said. Both hospitals can remain where they are and increased in size. The problem is that MAHC is bent and bound to build new. NO worry about cost. The hospital in Huntsville is not 50 years old. Is it? MAHC says the cost to add 10 beds could be 50 million dollars and local share might in increase to 10 million dollars. Any figures I can find online say that a hospital bed costs between 1 and 2 million dollars. So why would 10 extra bed cost 5 million dollars each? MAHC has not shown anyone justification for saying the existing buildings can’t be upgraded, or that it is too expensive to upgrade. I think most people in South Muskoka would be happy keeping exactly what we have. Just do some maintenance! MAHC needs to get a new crew of consultants!
The Real Person!
The Real Person!
It’s Thanksgiving and I am very grateful that there has been some agreement to a proposal which will be submitted to the Ontario government for evaluation according to their criteria. I am hoping for healing from the unpleasant reactionary conflict between communities and maybe family members living in different towns. Thanks to all – the 45 doctors for South Muskoka who signed to support the now current plan, the MAHC planners and managers who have persisted in putting something together that will be acceptable to Muskoka communities largely satisfying government limits to funding- we will need to increase our local shares and also to MPP Graydon Smith for quietly working on this. Please take the time to read the MAHC website about the redevelopment and look at the FAQs or ask your own questions which will be answered. there is still a lot of work to be done- we need another nursing home and more Home and community based services so people can get proper care at home or close to home, instead of getting stuck in hospital with no appropriate rehab or reactivation program support. ( my understanding is that new buildings are needed because otherwise ongoing patient services would be unsatisfactorily effected and building renewal would be more costly) In ten years, developments in medical treatments and health care preventative strategies could mean less time in hospital beds and better quality of living for us all. Let’s be hopeful, kind to each other and optimistic, and work together.