A glowing review of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC)’s redevelopment proposal appears likely to get Bracebridge council back on board with a $10 M commitment to the new hospital build.
During the upcoming Nov. 5 Bracebridge general committee meeting, councillors will receive a review of MAHC’s redevelopment proposal, as prepared by Medcura Health. They will also vote on whether to confirm a $10 million contribution to the project.
In September 2023, council agreed to contribute $10 in funds, land or in-kind goods or services for a new Bracebridge hospital. However, in July of this year, they voted to withhold that funding over concerns that the plans did not include enough new beds at the Bracebridge site.
It appears adjustments made by MAHC last month to include 10 more beds in Bracebridge might be enough to turn the tide.
In their report, Medcura finds that although the 36-bed model may have been adequate under normal operating conditions, it would have been stressed during surge events and provided limited opportunities for flexibility and growth. The final proposed model, which includes 10 additional beds in Bracebridge, provides a sufficiently robust local solution, according to the consultant.
The review was based on MAHC’s current capital redevelopment proposal, including for both sites: expanded emergency departments; labour and delivery services; ICU capacity; and general surgery, as well as non-duplicated services separated between the sites.
Medcura also highlights the value of the provincial government’s support and the importance of capitalizing on the opportunity for significant health care investment for the area.
Not all hospital beds are created equal, the report indicates, and the types of services to be delivered in Huntsville require more beds and more physical footprint due to the long stays those patients will experience.
Medcura believes that, although recruitment and retention is a challenge throughout Ontario, healthcare workers will be attracted to the Bracebridge site as it will provide more predictability given the scheduled nature of many of the services to be delivered.
The General Committee meeting takes place at 9 am in the Council Chambers and can be viewed online at the Town website.
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I’m new to the game but feel Bracebridge Council needs to make a commitment to funding. This would allow the proposal to move forward for approval.
The Council also needs to safe guard the commitment with some form of prerequisite that needs to be approved by the tax payers they serve.
This project is way to big for Council to just do as they see best. I’ll make reference to the rink/ library project to prove my point. Way to extravagant in my opinion, money spent on major library upgrades and space over not building a second rink. Council has lost my trust.
I’ll be watching the Nov. 5th meeting with an open mind on exactly how Council will protect my tax dollar. If they go into closed doors over this, my mind will be made up.
MAHC never explained why they are hung up on all new.
Instead of adding wings to both sites.
Spend far less money and add wings to the existing sites to improve both as suggested by Dave Wilkin, former board member commented: 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.”
Midland is spending far less and getting far more than Muskoka.
MAHC never explained why when this was brought up.
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 $100M is the local share,
This is deception by MAHC. They are very shady and do whatever it takes to slime through the public eyes.
I certainly won’t be voting for the counsel members currently in Bracebridge in future elections. As a Bracebridge citizen I’m extremely disappointed in MAHC and our ELECTED officials.
Bracebridge and District money should be contingent on the plan for Bracebridge being implemented despite this defective plan. This should not be allowed to be a ‘bait and switch.’
Perhaps funding should be contingent on the contract for the Bracebridge hospital being given priority. Let’s not get taken.
Remember that the MAHC submission to the government is simply PROPOSED. No guarantees that it will be accepted. Any municipal funding agreement should be dependent on a minimum of 46 beds for South Muskoka and the inclusion of a viable patient transportation plan.
Not sure where Jim Breen lives but most likely near Huntsville and was not born and raised in muskoka. This whole process has been short sighted and very discriminating to the residents and tax payers of bracebridge and gravenhurst. There has and continues to be a tremendous amount of growth in bracebridge …it’s a growth that can not be sustainable with our infrastructure and this includes the proposed hospital. Once the red tape is cut this proposal will be already obsolete.
Let’s be clear on this. South Muskoka is losing beds! I still don’t see a reasonable solution to patients being transferred back and forth between the two sites. Also . because all ALC patients will be seen in the Huntsville site that will mean farther travel distances for people living in South Muskoka to visit loved ones at the Huntsville site. There is a reason why there are more beds in South Muskoka than in Huntsville. 46 beds might not be adequate in 10 years. When I was in the South Muskoka hospital this past July the hospital was over capacity. What will it be like in 10 years with less beds? All of Muskoka and East Parrysound will likely have a population increase. I think we will need more beds at both sites.
Don’t be duped like the District was.
Don’t be surprised Muskoka ends up with a single hospital and South Muskoka gets nothing.
That has been MAHC’s plan all along.
For 12 years.
MAHC may present their two hospital plan, in order to get funding, but don’t be surprised they come back later and state that it’s too expensive and only one going forward is the only possible option.
Again.
It appears the hospital board are using the same ruse as the documented, dangerously incompetent airport board used to dupe councillors into closing a runway.
Muskoka airport used to have two usable runways.
Still does but one is closed for no reason at all.
A “new” runway was to replace the far superior existing one but that was just to dupe councillors into closing the far superior existing one.
Once it was closed the “new” one suddenly skyrocketed in price and was cancelled.
In fact the “new” runway never was a viable option. Nothing to do with cost.
Just like the original tiny new Bracebridge clinic/hospital never was a viable option.
Even when it was crystal clear to District councillors their time had been wasted for years regarding a non-viable runway they still bought the snake oil and closed the far superior existing runway.
Just like it’s likely everyone’s time has been wasted and Muskoka ends up with a single hospital and South Muskoka gets nothing.
Bracebridge is getting an excellent deal. A bigger and better hospital, with 10 more acute care beds than Huntsville.
The Save South Muskoka Hospital people are quickly becoming a laughingstock. It appears they’re having too much fun stirring the pot and getting in front of the cameras to actually care about healthcare.
MAHC messed up originally, but all’s well that end’s well.
Let’s get on with it. Build the hospitals and come together as a community.