Representatives for Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC), which manages both the Bracebridge and Huntsville hospital sites, were before Huntsville’s General Committee on Jan. 28, 2026, as part of their annual visit.
Last March, MAHC announced that it would be temporarily consolidating labour and delivery care at the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH) site and stated that the temporary measure, which became effective on March 11, 2025, would be in place for up to 12 months.
“Our decision to consolidate services follows extensive consultations with our clinical teams, including the Medical Advisory Committee, physicians, nurses, and other medical staff. The consolidation period will allow clinical teams to focus attention on several factors, including low patient volumes, referral patterns and leaves of absence, and nursing and physician coverage which has made it difficult to sustain the safety of labour and delivery services at SMMH [South Muskoka Memorial Hospital]. Over this period, attention will be placed on recruitment, assessment of patient volumes and referral pattens [sic] to strengthen capacity and ensure the delivery of safe, reliable obstetrical services. Regular evaluations will be conducted,” noted an MAHC release announcing the consolidation of the service last March.
MAHC CEO Cheryl Harrison updated councillors on obstetrical services, noting that there is still work ahead. “There’s been a lot of uncertainty around it. I’d love to be able to say we’ve got more certainty, but we still have work ahead of us.” She said MAHC has been working with Ontario Health and the Ministry of Health, and said, “We’ve been given a lot of support to continue that work. We’re also looking at a formal partnership where we will be able to have a higher-level relationship with another organization to be able to create a bigger and better obstetrical program for Muskoka.”
Harrison said a special section has been added to MAHC’s website to update the community on that work.
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Why oh why are Midwives AND/OR Doulas not a part of this discussion?
Why oh why are midwives not part of this discussion?