May 6, 2024

HUNDREDS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF SOUTH MUSKOKA DOCTORS’ PLAN SATURDAY AS TALKS CONTINUE WEDNESDAY WITH MAHC

BRACEBRIDGE — In a public square the people’s voice was heard loud and cheer.

“54 and Care Close to Home!” “54 and Care Close to Home!”

Organizers of Saturday’s “support for doctors” couldn’t be more clear, as Dan Waters and Phyllis Winngton-Ingram led hundreds in the repeated chants — which may be low-balling it.

The outcry was a welcome relief for the pent-up fears and frustrations of those calling for two equal hospitals in south Muskoka and Huntsville.

As welcome as the sun and an opportunity to shout openly and loudly outdoors.

The 30-minute “non-rally” was short, but direct.

**Hundreds turned out Saturday morning for a short show of support for doctors, enough to have more than filled meeting halls in the winter. Photos Mark Clairmont**

With doctors, a couple of councillors, hospital workers and mostly just plain folk, the mood was as they oft repeated “cautiously optimistic” that the “final talks” between MDs and MAHC Wednesday could still bear more fruit — as in an increase of more than the 36 beds recently committed by the hospitals board.

A lot of what was said and felt wasn’t new for those following the negotiations, which could give a person with a weak heart a near cardiac arrest. This is a story that resembles the jagged blips and ups and downs of a bedside hospital monitor.

Save South Muskoka Hospital’s Tom Young warmed up the crowd at downtown’s Memorial Park, admitting he’s no math whiz, but that going from 54 beds now at SMMH down to 17 (18 actually) then up to 36 “it’s still a loss” of 18.

The real numbers are actually more stark. More on that later.

Nurse Roxanne Gravelle, president of OPSEU Local 380 and Chris McConnell of the North Simcoe Muskoka Labour Council spoke on behalf of workers at both SMMH and HDMH, reminding those present the personl toll changes could make in workers’ and patients’ lives.

Waters kept his remarks brief, in part referring to 2032 SSMH population numbers that show south Muskoka with 1.6 times as many people and hospital visits as Huntsville.

“It’s not about north or south,” said Young.

“We want proper health care for everyone,” reinforced Waters.

Applause all around for that one — as the crowd encircled the band shell bearing up red-blaring signs of support.

**Organizers Tom Young, far left, Dan Waters and Phyllis Ingram-Winnington led a short spirited rally chanting “54 and Care Close to Home.”**

One person shouted out: “Where are the politicians?”

They were unusually notably absent for the most part.

Young said he could see a couple.

“Let them speak,” the man continued.

“You’ll have to ask them,” replied Young.

And so it went. A not huge turnout — neither small. They would have filled both Sportsplex meeting halls or other MAHC meeting venues this winter.

MAHC got SSMH’s message re-enforced by cross-section of the community that included everyone from toddlers running around blowing bubbles to seniors resting in chairs under trees; to hospital workers, to construction and retail workers and small and large business owners of all ages between.

**Drs. Stephen Rix, left, and Rohit Gupta wave to the crowd while acknowledging the support them that includeds hugs and high-fives.**

Drs. Rohit Gupta and Stephen Rix received hugs and high fives.

They waved back along with family members at their side.

But Gupta said they weren’t allowed to speak due to contracts they originally signed when receiving hospital privileges of practise with MAHC.

However Gupta and other doctors were allowed to criticize MAHC’s plan at those winter meetings.

Gupta told me after that doctors still “don’t think 36 beds is enough to take care of our population. Right now we have 54 beds. We’re still struggling every single day. Every day were are 110, 120 or 130 per cent (over capacity) even with 54 acute care beds.

“If we’re talking 10 years from now, the population is more and more. And how are we going to take care and carry on with 36 beds?”

Huntsville today has 42 acute care beds, he said.

The province has already committed to increase acute care beds in Muskoka to 147.

So by that simple math: 147 minus 36 in south Muskoka would leave Huntsville with 111 beds — or so it would appear.

But if SMMH were to keep their 54 beds, Huntsville looks to up with 93 beds.

Gupta said those “93 beds are what they call acute care beds, but in reality they are way more than that. Because they have 14 stroke beds, which actually are acute beds. And then they also have 10 ICU beds, which they are not counting in that. And our 36 beds they are counting our 4 ICU beds. So in reality they (will) have more than 120 acute care beds. And we are getting only 36 as part of their new proposal.”

**It was a red-letters day for the hospitals in north and south Muskoka as everyone applauded a call for equal care in both parts of the district.**

Rix reiterated that “it’s still a very one-sided model, with most of the inpatient care still in Huntsville. We still feel that with what they’re proposing we’ll still struggle to even to meet current demand in south Muskoka, let alone what demand that might look like in 10 to 15 years.

“The real concern is that we’re building something that’s probably isn’t keeping with local demand. It’s very difficult to see how this is going to work in the long term for our community.

“We just don’t believe that what’s on the table is good for the patients of south Muskoka. We’re worried that it’s going to make recruitment to Bracebridge and Gravenhurst very challenging. Both for specialities such as general surgery, internal medicine. But also for family physicians. Particularly for anyone who want to do some hospitalist work, as well as have an office practice.”

More from the doctors tomorrow.