There are very few things Canadians are more passionate about than their healthcare.
District Municipality of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman says he’s heard loud and clear that the hospital service delivery model being proposed by administrators and the board of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare isn’t sitting well with thousands of people, particularly in South Muskoka.
“This plan is not going to work for the communities of South Muskoka, so MAHC is going to need to go back to the table with doctors, nurses, and health care workers and try to find a better-balanced model. With a major fundraising effort ahead, and given this is the largest project that will be built in Muskoka in the next 10 years, we need a plan that will work for all of Muskoka,” he said.
“The hospital Board is in a tough place. COVID and inflation now mean that the cost of duplicating all services at two sites is not affordable with the budget they’ve been given. And although not everyone will agree, there are undoubtedly efficiencies and some strengths to having the two hospitals specialize to some degree and not duplicate services. That said, I think this model of “extreme specialization” means the loss of some services in South Muskoka that residents—by the thousands—are saying they want and need closer to home.”
However, Lehman said there are some positive things in the plan like the expansion of both Emergency Departments, the addition of a level 3 Intensive Care Unit in Huntsville, and expanded ambulatory services in Bracebridge that should reduce the number of people who have to travel to Orillia or Barrie for services that are not available in Muskoka today.
“However healthcare workers and residents have been very clear about their concerns at the community meetings. I believe the Province should allow MAHC the time to work on the model without the funding being at risk, and I am hopeful that they will. There are a full 6 years to go before ground is broken on construction…so let’s take the time now to get the plan right, and get all of Muskoka back on board. These hospitals are such a critical part of our future,” he noted.
The District Municipality of Muskoka has committed to raising $77.3 million of the $225 million local share stipulated by the Province with the remainder coming from municipalities in East Parry Sound and Muskoka, as well as the hospital foundations.
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John Whitty says
Don’t be duped.
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.
Don’t be duped by the MAHC board like District councillors were duped by the airport board.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/feisty-crowd-hears-new-hospital-plan-in-bracebridge/
https://johnwhitty3.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/snake-oil-salesmen-selling-to-the-gullible/
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.
If 2/3 of the $225 million local share is now stopped the latest MAHC model is dead in the water.
Make it so.
JoanneTanaka says
Agreed that a lot of work is needed to truly engage South Muskoka which could be facing a lot of change to MAHC services. It is very emotional.It was relatively recent that MAHC was given advice that the province’s envelope of funding would not be growing to accommodate spiralling construction costs and other costs. MAHC is attempting to plan for less duplication and efficient ( that’s dollars and appropriate staff use) which impacts training needs and health care professionals lives and business plans and where they will work.Technology and the community enhancement outreach offer opportunities and solutions to ever burgeoning hospital costs.
Failure of the province to adequately fund current services and provide leadership for developing healthcare was apparent in the outcomes for residents of long term care during the pandemic, mental health services generally, and the collapsing availability of primary care. If South Muskoka is to have the acute care hospital they want/need, then the province will need to guarantee a much heavier funding envelope. I hope the District will be joining with municipalities and Parry Sound Muskoka voters and our MPP Graydon Smith to press the province for sufficient needed funding for current and future hospital health care and community enhancement supporting wellness.
Norm Raynor says
Why is there no elected person sitting on the MAHC board. If the board was made up of the elected mayors and reeves of the affected communities, we wouldn’t have been presented with this unaccepted plan. I realize it would be large board, but at least we would have a board that represents the voting public.
The way it is now Mr. Maloney, and the other mayors of South Muskoka had to tell MAHC that the plan doesn’t work.
Verda-Jane Hudel says
Agree with all the above comments. The present committee should resign and allow the professionals in medicine to take over .
They have wasted so much money and time.
Think about it. Time is of the essence.
Sue McKenzie says
I am as upset and concerned as every South Muskokan and want to caution that we all need to consider where we should be directing our messages of concern.
We need to think about the fact that every decision made by this volunteer Board must receive Ministry of Health approval every step of the way – a Ministry and government which is holding back the amount of funding required to build two new full service hospitals and which never intended to fund them. Please direct your justifiable anger at the Ford government for this unfulfilled last minute election promise to Muskoka.
Just remember who you elected to be your MPP – and WHY he got those last few votes to put him over the top. MPP Graydon Smith stood shoulder to shoulder with Doug Ford as Ford announced that Muskoka would get two new full service hospitals – only a few days before the election that Smith won by a mere 2000 votes.
Call or write your MPP Graydon Smith as well as attend the MAHC meetings with the intent to listen to what the volunteer Board has to say and hear how they have tried to come up with a plan to deal with the Ford-imposed financial restrictions. And please remember these people on the Board are your neighbours.