MUSKOKA’S HOSPITAL BATTLEFIELD NOT UNLIKE U.S. RIGHT WING POLARIZATIONS. SSMHC SAYS ‘V2’ OPTION ONLY SOLUTON
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — What do you get for $78 million?
A new library-arena rec facility in Bracebridge or the ‘Local Share’ of two new hospitals?
Both it seems.
As Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare begins dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on its “final” proposal to the province this fall to rebuild HDMH and SMMH, the nearly year-long battle continues for south Muskoka residents to put up or shut up.
The Save the South Muskoka Hospital Committee continues to press its month-long case “strongly urging 60 acute care beds at the Future South Muskoka Hospital Site and the ‘Care Close to Home V2’ healthcare model.”
Member Peter Cross says MAHC broke its promise in January after promising the district SSMH would at least maintain its current 67 beds, but came out with 14 and then 36 as of now.
In their first fall release today, imploring MAHC to cease and desist with their Made in Muskoka Model, the opposing SSMHC group spells out in a bit more detail.
It’s not a lot more than the same largely solid case that has already fallen on deaf board of directors ears.
Neither side has made arguments that convince the other of the soundness of their position.
It’s easily comparable to bitter divides in the U.S., Middle East, the Liberal and Conservative feud in Canada and ever present district squabbles between north and south Muskoka.
Entrenchment right, left is not only divisive, but detrimental to everyone’s health.
Why are foundation dollars going to hospital capital?
Evidence alone of that is the fundraising fight for mega millions between the foundations of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital and Huntsville District Memorial Hospital.
That’s without delving in to the critical and sensitive issue of overall hospital funding by the province.
But, how is it that the two foundations can justify raising $73 million (about half each) toward the Local Share — or about a third of the total $225 million of the total Ontario ask?
Isn’t capital the sole responsibility of the province?
No wonder many are asking how money meant for beds and bed pans can be spent on bricks and mortar.
What about all health care medical and more?
While all of this is vital to local health, what’s really missing is a comprehensive examination of cross-district health services.
“Keep the Promise” doesn’t only apply to Premier Doug Ford, MPP Graydon Smith and other municipal and hospital leaders.
A truer promise, which is being flip-flopped on in billion-dollar hospital discussions about who gets what where, is a complete plan that encompasses all users and providers. Who is providing care and access to GPs, nurse practitioners, drug and home care providers, mental health services, yoga and general fitness and other community supports that add in to the evolving total picture.
So far that’s like take two Aspirins and call us in 2032 when something is built.
Wait times like this are as bad if not worse than surgical wait times for cancer, knee and hip operations with public vs. private health care on Ford’s horizon.
The rich can pay, the poor can damn well wait.
Care Close to Home ‘Version 2’
Meanwhile, back to SSMHC’s own “comprehensive assessment,” Made in Muskoka is no match for Care Close to Home V2 they argue is virtually unanimously endorsed by physicians in south Muskoka.
To them the latter still includes a minimum 60 — if not more — acute care beds “they can live with.”
Their assessment applies the following eight principles their team of professionals with decades of healthcare experience have identified as critical to an effective healthcare system: ● Accessibility ● Equity ● Patient-Centredness ● System Integration ● Continuity of Care ● Responsiveness to Changing Community Needs ● Respect for the Quintuple Aim ● Interdependency.
It concludes the MAHC model “remains significantly flawed” measured against those “critical” principles as it is “fundamentally inequitable and its implementation would be detrimental to the health, safety and well-being of the residents of South Muskoka.
“V2 discussions call for the Made in Muskoka model to be rejected.
According to them, by contrast, V2 provides an equitable approach that respects the essential healthcare delivery principles.
“Significantly, the Care Close to Home V2 model includes an acute care bed allocation that is appropriate for the population of South Muskoka and addresses and mitigates travel concerns across the region.”
And “overall, it offers an equitable and effective solution for healthcare for residents across all of Muskoka into the future.
“SSMHC invites stakeholders, community members, and healthcare professionals to review the full position statement, which outlines our findings and recommendations in detail.
“As the Made in Muskoka model is not supported by this assessment nor by the public at large, the Care Close to Home V2 model provides an appropriate and needed solution to address future healthcare needs.
“We strongly encourage the public to voice its concerns with the Made in Muskoka model and show support for the Care Close to Home V2 model through continued pressure on local municipal and provincial politicians, and the MAHC board. Further, we encourage all residents of Muskoka to continue engaging with your community on this critical matter.”
For a copy of the SSMHC position statement, please visit our website here: https://ssmh.ca/recommendation-for-a-healthcare-delivery-model-and-acute-care-beds-at-the-future-south-muskoka-hospital-site/
And to view the Care Close to Home V2 model, please visit our website here: https://ssmh.ca/care-close-to-home/
About SSMHC
The Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee is a grassroots non-profit corporation dedicated to advocating for two mid-sized, equitable hospitals in both South Muskoka and Huntsville.
The SSMHC tagline, “Keep the Promise!” refers to the commitments made by the District of Muskoka, the Town of Huntsville, the Town of Bracebridge, and from MAHC to the people of Muskoka to pursue the strategy for healthcare at two acute care sites in Muskoka. SSMHC membership is open to grassroots volunteers who are passionate about advocating for local, accessible, equitable and high-quality healthcare delivery at two acute care hospital sites.
To get involved, show support or learn more:
- Sign up to become a Community Member in support of SSMHC
- Sign our current petition targeting the $77M local share from the District of Muskoka, details can be found at https://ssmh.ca/petitions/
- Contact our local municipal and provincial politicians, and the MAHC board indicating your concerns and calling for them to keep the promise of two acute care hospitals in both Huntsville and Bracebridge. A list of contacts can be found here: https://ssmh.ca/government-and-mahc-contacts/
- Reach out on our contact page to acquire a lawn sign as a visible show of support: https://ssmh.ca/contact/
- Donate to our committee: https://ssmh.ca/donations/
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