The MAHC Capital Redevelopment Committee recently passed a motion to recommend that the Board of Directors amend the hospital redevelopment plan to include an additional 10 acute care beds at the Bracebridge site. This will bring the total number of acute care beds up to 46, and this recommendation will be considered by the board at their October 10th meeting.
While this proposed revision does not completely meet the expectations that were outlined in the Care Close to Home model, we are encouraged by this significant improvement. We are thankful for the strong community advocacy that has taken place by the public and the support of our local politicians. Specifically, we recognize that our MPP Graydon Smith has been working hard behind the scenes to support and protect healthcare in our community.
Should the Board approve this revision, it is our opinion that 46 acute care beds will be able to service the basic acute care needs for South Muskoka, especially if there are options for expansion should our future needs change. We are further encouraged by the involvement of the District of Muskoka in helping find local, nonhospital solutions for our ALC (alternative level of care) patients. This multi-faceted approach will help to create efficient and effective healthcare for our community.
When the hospital redevelopment proposal was made public in January, only 14 acute care beds were planned for the Bracebridge site. It is only through the several months of advocacy by our community, municipal politicians, and MPP Smith that we are now up to 46 acute care beds. This revised plan is much more viable for the long-term sustainability of our local acute care hospital. MPP Smith has been a strong presence to this point, and we are confident that he will continue to advocate for Muskoka at a provincial level as redevelopment planning continues onto the next stages.
We thank the public for their ongoing support, and hope that the Board of Directors will pass this recommendation on October 10th.
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It is encouraging that the doctors support this new plan. It is a shame that everyone had to fight so hard to get MAHC to open their eyes. If MAHC had done proper consultation with the public they are supposed to serve there never would have been a fight. The way the MAHC board is selected needs to change!