Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP Graydon Smith wants Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) to withdraw a motion to proceed with its hospital redevelopment plan.
The motion, which is included on the agenda for MAHC’s July 2 meeting, reads: “Authorize the consultants to proceed with the formal, detailed planning and documentation for the stage 1.3 submission to the Ministry of Health regarding the functional programming for the redevelopment of the two hospitals based on the current proposed model as detailed in the report.”
A second point in the agenda outlines, “and continue to work on the model with consultants and all stakeholders to collaborate on strategies for addressing flexible space, future capacity planning, and the key issues identified for the success of the project identified in the report.”
Smith’s letter is addressed to Dave Uffelmann, board chair, who he says he spoke with Tuesday morning. He says if the board goes forward with the motion, he will not support the current redevelopment proposal.
“As [the former mayor of Bracebridge], I worked successfully for years with your predecessors, senior hospital management, the medical community, and others, to get the process of redevelopment to a point where all stakeholders were committed to an outcome which satisfied a myriad of points of view,” he writes. “It was not easy; however, the success of that approach led to financial commitments by the provincial government, municipal governments and hospital foundations to financially support a two-site redevelopment model.”
The MyMuskokaNow.com newsroom reached out to MAHC for comment.
Smith’s letter comes a week after MAHC told Huntsville council it could submit its proposal as soon as this November.
He reiterates the point he made during the community chats MAHC hosted earlier this year: slow down.
“I realize that much has changed, and continues to change, in both the worlds of healthcare service delivery and cost,” continues Smith. “Regardless, the commitment of dollars to this project by funders, especially the province, exceeds what would be reasonably expected for communities of our size. This is an unprecedented opportunity for our communities, but moving forward with the current plan could jeopardize some municipal commitments, thereby putting any future redevelopment on shaky ground.”
He says after meeting with physicians from South Muskoka, he believes too many are “wary or outright unsupportive” of the “Made-in-Muskoka healthcare system” proposal as it currently stands. “Not surprisingly, residents are looking to their doctors for guidance on whether the proposal is sufficient in meeting the needs of the community,” continues Smith.
He references a June 21 media release from MAHC – which highlighted “positive developments” with its proposal – saying the motion, if passed, “further erodes the level of trust necessary for the plan, and the board, to be successful.”
“Making decisions that satisfy two communities that do not always see eye-to-eye is a tough job, but doing so is essential to achieving success,” says Smith.
Smith asks Uffelmann for a meeting “to discuss how this exceptional opportunity to redevelop both hospitals in Muskoka can proceed with the support of all communities.”
