FUNDS FOR 22 NEW HOSPITAL BEDS WILL BRING TOTAL NUMBER IN MUSKOKA TO 123
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — With still no word on a new hospital location for south Muskoka, Muskoka Algonquin Health (MAHC) said Friday it is receiving $14 million in provincial funding to cover the operating costs of 22 additional beds.
This “will enhance the care provided to patients in Muskoka and the surrounding areas,” says a release late this afternoon.
It says directors got the “good news” at that their November board meeting, which means MAHC’s total bed complement across the two hospital sites in south Muskoka and Huntsville increases to 123 beds.
The announcement includes permanent funding for surge beds, an additional Intensive Care Unit bed at each site and 10 new inpatient rehabilitation beds.
“On behalf of the board, I am delighted Ontario Health has recognized the need to fund our 10 surge beds on a permanent basis. We have been using these beds during times of gridlock and surge, and this announcement provides guaranteed funding to meet the ongoing needs of our communities,” says Cheryl Harrison, president and CEO.
“We are also thrilled to be in a position to expand the rehabilitation services provided to inpatients in the future. This is very good news for our organization, our community, and for patients and families who rely on us for high-quality healthcare when and where they need it.”
The release adds that in the weeks and months to come, MAHC is moving through the internal planning to bring the new critical care beds and inpatient rehabilitation beds into operation on care units within the existing hospital footprints, and to develop and recruit the specialized health human resources to support the care model.
At the same time, the South Muskoka Hospital Foundation and Huntsville Hospital Foundation are looking forward to engaging community-based support to purchase the physical beds and other required hospital equipment to establish the enhanced services.
MAHC spokesperson Allyson Snelling replied to MuskokaTODAY.com Nov. 20 stating: “At this point, we have not completed the comprehensive planning work that will determine the bed distribution.”
And “with respect to site selection, I don’t have any update on when the announcement is anticipated. The due diligence work continues.”
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