Labour and delivery care at the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH) will be moved to Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH) for the next year.
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) says the decision follows consultations with its clinical teams, physicians, nurses and other medical staff.
Officials add the consolidation period will allow for clinical teams to focus attention on several factors, including low patient volumes, referral patterns and leaves of absence, and nursing and physician coverage they say has made it difficult to sustain the safety of labour and delivery services in south Muskoka.
MAHC says this means patients who show up at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital requiring labour and delivery services will be assessed, stabilized, and transferred to Huntsville. However, emergency obstetrical care will continue to be available in South Muskoka.
Officials say the temporary consolidation allows them to improve staffing stability, integrate best practices from external reviews, and enhance training programs — all focused on strengthening the future of obstetrical services at MAHC.
“Safe, high-quality obstetrical care is a top priority,” says Cheryl Harrison, President & CEO. “Our decision to temporarily consolidate services reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of patient care within our obstetrical program.”
Officials say the decision to consolidate services to Huntsville will be reassessed in six and nine months, as they work to strengthen capacity at the South Muskoka site, with the goal of reinstating obstetrical services as soon as it is safe to do so.
MAHC says their care team will continue to work at the same physical location at the SMMH Site, with the same shifts ensuring continuity in the workplace. Patients can also continue to utilize available community prenatal and post-partum services.
“We appreciate your patience as we work to improve obstetrical services at SMMH,” says Harrison. “I’d like to acknowledge the very hard work of our obstetrical teams of physicians, midwives and nurses providing labour and delivery services.”
For any questions regarding your care plan, MAHC says to contact your healthcare provider.
