It appears Bracebridge Town councillors are having serious second thoughts about whether to proceed with $10 million in funding for the new Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) model of care.
Yesterday, during the Bracebridge planning and development committee meeting, without prior notice Coun. Don Smith and Mayor Rick Maloney introduced a two-part motion in response to MAHC’s recent decision to move ahead with their proposed model of care for Muskoka.
Part 1 of the motion stipulated that a representative from MAHC come before a special committee to answer questions about the model. Part 2 was that Town staff reevaluate the $10 million in local funding already promised, and come back with some possible stipulations and conditions on releasing the funds.
“My faith in the current MAHC process is gone,” said Mayor Maloney. “I believe there is always an opportunity to move forward but the model must meet certain conditions.”
Maloney said MAHC’s decision to proceed with the model during their board of directors meeting last evening has essentially ”welded their train to the tracks.”
Coin. Smith said the MAHC board has ignored the mounting concerns expressed by the people of south Muskoka, MPP Graydon Smith and many area physicians.
He said the board has “continually undermined the trust of the South Muskoka community” and the information they’ve chosen to release is nothing more than “spin.”
The decision was approved unanimously by the committee and must now be approved during the next Bracebridge council meeting on Wednesday.
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We need professional planners to design a plan to renovate and add to the existing sites.
That’s what most hospitals do.
Far cheaper than all new.
Here is what Midland is getting for far less money.
240 beds.
Search “Georgian Bay General Hospital looks to future with $100M expansion plans”
MAHC falsely claims building on the existing Bracebridge site is too disruptive.
Build multiple stories over top of the parking lot, as has been suggested, is not disruptive at all.
Then connect old with new.
People will gladly park at the closed arena parking lot during construction.
Interesting listening to the different stands on our hospital situation. Please remember that old adage of “Either S#%* or get off the pot.” In other words ‘tempis fugit’.
We hear from Mayor Heidi Lorenz of Gravenhurst. Get on with the job. We’re waiting.
From Armour Mayor Rod Ward. To the effect that there is community to the north. A hospital is important for them.
From Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock. Support for the process and restraint from getting into a north/south discussion.
From Bracebridge. Mayor Maloney and the ‘South Muskoka development committee’. “Waaah! ”
And then from our MPP Smith. And remember Hugh Mackenzie’s ‘Listen Up! Now is the time for leadership’ commentary. We.ve read where you “can’t support”….. “But sure there is a rock solid”…… But it seems it has to be there in the center of the universe. Or else “Waaah!”
Now that’s leadership eh!
And one thing often repeated is the transportation hazard between hospitals, should need arise. One comment made that almost sound like Mission Impossible.
“Driver. Your mission should you choose to accept it is to drive from here to Huntsville/ Bracebridge. Rest assured you family will be well looked after if….” Fer the luva’ man!!!!
There are hundreds of cars and trucks up and down that stretch of road every day. What’s the disaster rate? My wife and I go to cards at the Gravenhurst Senior center on Friday evenings. Lucky so far I guess. No recent tragedy. And an ambulance gets a clear run. Although recently a moose had not been alerted.
So MPP Smith you represent the entire area. A good gig. By all means refer to that Hugh Mackenzie “Listen Up!” Has to do with being a leader.
Huntsville’s 137 bed hospital would not even be large enough for their own community 10 years from now. A 14 bed satellite hospital for Parry Sound Muskoka is a very serious blunder on behalf of MAHC. I believe the orders are coming from the Province.
Cudos to the Bracebridge Mayor and Don Smith.
Holding back funding may be an avenue to get the attention of the single minded hospital board.
I encourage the Gravenhurst Council to take a stand as well.
If the Bracebridge hospital wasn’t there, my father would have died between Port Carling and getting to the hospital. Huntsville would have been too far. I’m worried That the hub of Bracebridge will not be able to care for the people in need.