The pushback against Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s (MAHC) new service delivery model has been swift and vocal in south Muskoka.
Last week MAHC announced significant changes to the levels of service offered at their Huntsville and Bracebridge hospitals. The news has been met with considerable opposition at a series of town hall meetings, in addition to petitions and letters of opposition to the plan from dozens of area healthcare workers.
The South Muskoka Memorial Hospital Auxilary and Cottage Country Family Health Team (CCFHT) have now added their voices to the growing tide of disconent.
On January 30, the CCFHT passed a motion giving their, “full support to the position taken by the physicians of South Muskoka in their submission to the MAHC Board and requests that MAHC pursue an alternate model for inpatient care.”
The CCFHT includes family doctors, nurses and nurse practitioners, as well as other health care professionals serving patients in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Muskoka Lakes, Township of Georgian Bay, Wahta and surrounding areas.
Acording to a letter from the Team to the MAHC Board of Directors, the proposed new model will further challenge the recruitment and retention of primary care providers and specialists in South Muskoka.
“Many residents of South Muskoka will look south to Orillia for inpatient and other care as Orillia is geographically closer than Huntsville,” reads the letter. “Long-established care and referral pathways would be dismantled and relationships that the CCFHT has established will be disrupted.
Furthermore, the CCFHT Board requests that CCFHT be invited to participate in future planning and design work to ensure a joint integrated plan for healthcare services development in our communities.”
The Auxilllary has also issued its own open letter to the MAHC Board of Directors citing their concerns over the proposed service level changes.
“This is a total lack of respect to the work that we have done for you over the years when you take our hospital away from us,” it states.
For the past 75 years the Auxiliary’s role has been to enhance the stay of the patients in the hospital by assisting patients, staff and visitors and raising money to help purchase medical equipment.
“According to the new plan there will not be a need for volunteers with only 18 short term stay beds, which is most disappointing to those who show up to help out our hospital every day,” reads the letter. “Neither will there be any need to do any fundraising for hospital equipment, as we have done every year since we first became a volunteer support to our hospital.”
The Auxiliary outlines specific concerns over obstetrics, the healthcare of seniors and potential transportation issues.
MAHC will continue to host their “community chats” until February 7, 2024. Visit www.mahc.ca/communitychats for more information and to register to attend a virtual chat via Zoom.
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John Whitty says
Don’t be surprised the mini Bracebridge hospital in the new plan is cancelled.
It’s clearly just a ruse to placate those in the southern 2/3 of Muskoka and keep donations flowing.
As Dr. Daniel of Gravenhurst (retired) said in his letter to Ms. Harrison at MAHC:
“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.”
Just like the alternate runway 12/30 at the airport was always a ruse to dupe councillors into closing an inexpensive, far superior, into-wind runway.
For no reason at all.
12/30 never was a viable option. Nothing to do with cost as airport management claimed.
The neighbours won’t allow their trees to be cut down.
The airport CEO was called “flippant” for suggesting the trees would be cut down without the neighbour’s permission.
Due diligence was never done on 12/30 before it was presented to council in 2020.
Obvious incompetence.
“Flippant” is at 15:00 here:https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/784981370/3e538e4e18
All councillors had to do was pick up where they left off at that meeting.
Once 12/30 was not an option 09/27 should have been restored as they discussed.
Even though councillors are aware they have been misled for years by the airport board regarding 12/30 council is thinking of wasting $343K on those demonstrating incompetence.
Unbelievable.
A tiny fraction of $343K would restore the safety and usability of Muskoka airport with 2 runways as it has been for decades.
In fact ZERO dollars is needed as stated to council in this video.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/15o9XRaCx1AbkTkQsMzAkd2incMTl3h_M/view?usp=sharing
Current Muskoka airport management is dangerously incompetent.
Are all District employees dangerously incompetent?
Or is it limited to just the airport?
Why is documented, dangerous incompetence and totally false derogatory statements tolerated at the District?
Are all District decisions based on misinformation from staff?
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/airport-changes-to-cost-an-extra-343200/#comments
Why is safety not the top priority at MAHC and the airport?