In the wake of the controversy surrounding Muskoka Algonquin HealthCare(MAHC) ‘s proposal to change the service levels at Muskoka’s two hospitals, some 47 local physicians have offered a counter-proposal.
Dubbed the Care Close to Home capital redevelopment proposal, the plan offers a different model of care than MAHC’s Made in Muskoka model which was revealed during several public information sessions held throughout Muskoka in January and February. The Made in Muskoka proposal met with strong opposition in South Muskoka, primarily due to a decrease in beds and some services at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge.
Under the newly proposed Care Close to Home proposal, the Huntsville site would have 50 inpatient beds (including 12 beds for stroke rehabilitation), seven ICU beds, and a 24/7 emergency department. Outpatient/diagnostic services would include chemotherapy and a dialysis unit along with specialized diagnostics including nuclear medicine, bone density and an MRI.
Under the new plan, the Bracebridge site would have 90 inpatient beds including seven ICU beds and a 24/7 emergency department. It would maintain obstetrics and inpatient surgical services. Outpatient/diagnostic services would include services such as mammograms, ultrasounds and CT scans as well as continued outpatient surgical and endoscopy services. Bracebridge would also have seven level two ICU beds.
The loss of the obstetrics unit in Bracebridge had been a point of contention during the public meetings and the new proposal argues that obstetric services at both hospitals are necessary to provide equitable access for everyone in Muskoka. The physicians also point out that maintaining obstetrics in Bracebridge would help to alleviate overcrowding at Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Orillia.
The proposal argues that South Muskoka has a higher population density and growth rate, making it more sensible to have increased inpatient beds in Bracebridge.
According to the Care Close to Home proposal, the new plan would result in minimizing patient transfers, as both sites would now have adequate inpatient services to support the local population.
The report says MAHC should conduct a full analysis on the cost of renovating the existing sites as opposed to building entirely new hospitals. MAHC should also make public the consultants’ report, including those pertaining to site selection, and provide transparent engagement with the community and healthcare providers.
MAHC has pledged to engage in further talks before submitting any final plans to the province.
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As the ONA president said:
“There’s no shortage of money. The Ford government underspent, we know from the Financial Accountability Office, their budget by $22.6 billion. There is no reason why both communities cannot have hospitals.”
Exactly. No reason at all.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/ona-president-speaks-against-hospital-redevelopment-model-offers-to-collaborate-with-mahc-ceo/
Doug Ford has demonstrated health care is not a priority of his government.
Is the single site agenda coming from Ford?
Plus a mini, unviable hospital that will be cancelled/closed as in other communities?
The mini hospital is just a ruse to placate those in the southern 2/3 of Muskoka and keep donations flowing.
It’s not working.
Don’t be duped by the MAHC board like District councillors were duped by the airport board to go backwards from 2 to 1 runway and drastically reduce safety and usability. The alternate runway 12/30 was always a ruse.
https://johnwhitty3.wordpress.com/2023/07/11/snake-oil-salesmen-selling-to-the-gullible/
A lawsuit could force councillors to finally do the right thing.
https://southmuskoka.doppleronline.ca/speak-up-south-muskoka/
Make no mistake Muskoka is going backwards from 2 to 1 hospital with this unacceptable plan.
The second meeting in Bracebridge was just as feisty.
https://doppleronline.ca/huntsville/feisty-crowd-hears-new-hospital-plan-in-bracebridge/
Ford illegally limited raises to nurses with Bill 124.
When they worked to exhaustion during Covid.
Nurses had to take Ford to court to be treated fairly and legally and won.
Ford lost the first court case, appealed and lost again.
Search “Ontario to repeal wage-cap law after Appeal Court rules Ford government’s Bill 124 unconstitutional”
Just like he lost to CUPE previously. That legislation only lasted a few days.
Search “Ford, Trudeau sign $3.1B health-care funding deal that will see Ontario hire more health workers
Agreement comes year after feds promised to boost health transfers to provinces.”
“Although Ontario and the federal government reached an agreement in principle for $8.6 billion over 10 years following the summit, the two sides have been working out the details ever since. ”
What exactly is the issue with funding again?
Of course Ford won’t spend it on health care. It will go to his buddies for needless projects.
Like $300+ million of taxpayer dollars for an underground parking lot for a private spa at Ontario Place.
While claiming no public money is being spent on the spa.
What can you do with $500 million each to Huntsville and Bracebridge to refurbish existing sites and add new wings?
Turns out quite a lot.
For a measly $100 million Midland is getting 240 beds and more.
“the $100 million project making room for 240 beds, four operating rooms and the capacity to serve over 70 thousand patients each year, added space that physicians say would be game-changing for patient care.”
Search “Georgian Bay General Hospital looks to future with $100M expansion plans”
Don’t believe any of MAHC’s justifications of this flawed plan.
Or any of the costs quoted.
Or any of their patronizing spin.
Just like most people know by now you can’t believe anything Ford says.
As Dave Wilkin said:
“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.”
MAHC’s dithering has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. And could also cost us a full service hospital in Bracebridge.
MAHC ignored the doctor’s alternate plan when it was presented recently.
If the southern 2/3 of Muskoka pulls their local share funding MAHC’s latest plan is dead in the water.
MAHC can’t ignore a massive drop in funding.
Kudos to our area doctors for coming up with a well-balanced counter proposal to the current restructuring plan. As opposed to the very unpopular Made-in-Muskoka proposal which called for a shiny new building with a severe reduction of services in Bracebridge, this new plan focuses on maintaining and enhancing the services we already have while limiting the less-than-safe reliance on transport.
Thank goodness somebody is finally prioritizing health and listening to the many concerns expressed at the community chats. And, let’s face it, who better to judge the health implications and safety of patients than our front line workers?
This new plan comes closer to the forgotten election promise of the Ford Government to fund two full service hospitals. Under the Care Close to Home proposal, there would be obstetrics at both Huntsville and Bracebridge sites while taking into account the health needs of local and seasonal residents, as well as recognizing the proximity of the Bracebridge site to tertiary care centres for specialized services. There is also a call for a cost analysis and greater transparency with regards to site choice and consultants’ reports, which would be a refreshing change.
At a recent meeting in Bracebridge, Ms Harrison spoke about the need for engagement and encouraged suggestions and solutions. Now they have one, eliminating the need to oversell a reluctant community into accepting a proposal that nobody wants.
Hopefully, the restructuring team will take the time needed to give the Care Close to Home proposal the serious consideration it deserves. They seem to have struggled understanding the concerns of the community and reading the room at the community chats.
Listen to the professional health care people-doctors, nurses etc. I support them. The governments need to stop finding excuses and start rearranging budgets and looking for other money sources (lotteries and other fundraising activities). Perhaps even include a staged development.
Can you explain why this exact same article on South Muskoka Doppler and Huntsville Doppler sites have different headlines? Is this non-biased reporting?