TALK IS CHEAP …. CHEAPER THAN A BILLION-DOLLAR HOSPITALS BOONDOGLE AND BLUNDER, SAYS SSMHG CHAIR KRUGER
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
MUSKOKA — Is time really running out on a hospitals submission?
Is there a “breach of the public’s trust” in MAHC’s board of directors?
Why does MAHC have “confidence” in its proposal?
Why was the Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee not included in hospital working groups studying all options — and alternatives?
Why are south Muskoka doctors dissed as a small group of “some” discontented professionals?
What is collaboration?
Why are talks even still going on weeks before a submission?
Why are politicians siding with MAHC?
Those and a host of ongoing questions that beggar the minds of SSMHG members in their latest inquiring dispatch today.
In yet another response to Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare’s repeated attempts to establish community working groups, which SSMHG calls a “disingenuous attempt to appear to be on a ‘collaborative’ path with stakeholders.”
They say as of Sept. 10 the hospital and by extension its board “lacks substance, accuracy and transparency in every aspect of the redevelopment project.”
Nothing new there from SSMHG’s point of view.
To these lay people, terms like “collaboration” is at odds with redevelopment actions of “working with someone to produce or create something.
“Proper collaboration requires stakeholders to be informed with the relevant information and should not be limited by an arbitrary submission date of November to the Ministry of Health.
“South Muskoka does not believe that proper collaboration has or will occur.”
According to SSMHG chair Bruce Kruger, whose name accompanies their latest missive — and salvo — “despite recognizing a breach of the public’s trust in its previous conduct MAHC has continually failed to repair trust.”
He says by raising this community working group process with only a matter of weeks before a detailed submission is planned, “this is more of the same conduct lacking good faith.”
The November submission date is arbitrary, he says.
MPP Graydon Smith says the focus should be on getting the right submission to the province rather than having it be rejected, Kruger states.
“We are assured that the funding for these projects is not going anywhere. Any credible working group process should not be constrained by an arbitrary timeline.”
A year in life of new hospitals
Kruger says MAHC has not been credible nor lived up to their 2015 promise to deliver two acute care equitable hospitals for the region, a commitment that MAHC reiterated before the District of Muskoka as recently as October 16, 2023.
Merely a month later, however, by November 30, 2023, MAHC announced a complete redesign of the two-hospital redevelopment project had taken place.
Redesigning a billion-dollar hospital system in a matter of weeks isn’t plausible, Kruger maintains.
To him — and by extension his group — MAHC’s focus on finalizing the Phase 1.3 submission for November suggests that again their solutions are already set, casting doubt on the sincerity of the complete process.
“MAHC also states that it has carefully analyzed the feedback and data to ensure our approach effectively meets the healthcare needs of our community and expresses confidence in their proposed plan for addressing regional healthcare needs.”
This again raises doubts in the minds of SSMHG about the intended purpose and effectiveness that these working groups can have when MAHC is already expressing its confidence in its plan before receiving further input from these groups.
They say MAHC’s community working groups are established to tackle issues like bed capacity and patient transportation, as well as another group focused on “Community Programming” for prevention and health improvement. However, such community programming does not directly contribute to building hospitals and provides a false illusion to the public that this process will address the critical issues.
Going on, he says SSMHC is the largest independent organization with more than 200 members and claiming to represent more than 14,000 citizens. And that it was formed specifically to address the future of the two new hospitals in Muskoka.
“These thousands of supporters have expressed a lack of confidence in MAHC and call for strong intervention against the MAHC ‘Made-in-Muskoka’ model by other elected officials and levels of government.
“We are deeply concerned that SSMHC has not been included in these working groups, despite being one of the only two groups — alongside the South Muskoka physicians — to have submitted Position Papers addressing key issues such as transportation, bed numbers, doctor retention and recruitment, and land use.
“We strongly endorse the model proposed by our doctors in the Care Closer to Home – Version 2 report.”
The are particularly troubled that MAHC has diminished the significance of the South Muskoka Hospital doctors’ perspectives by referring to the Care Close to Home – Version 2 proposed model as coming from “some South Muskoka physicians.”
“It must be absolutely clear that this model is supported virtually unanimously by the doctors at South Muskoka Hospital. This is not just ‘some’ physicians. These physicians have volunteered their professional expertise to develop the Care Closer to Home – Version 2 model because they firmly reject the MAHC Made in Muskoka model and its negative implications for the health, safety and well-being for the residents of Muskoka.”
Nearing conclusion, SSMHG accuses MAHC of not being transparent around the funding for each of the two hospital builds, nor the land acquisition. And has had very limited engagement with the public nor reasonable collaboration regarding the Made in Muskoka proposal — especially when considered against its significant unpopularity and now clearly identified shortcomings.
Further, any transparency around environmental reports has been nonexistent.
As such SSMHC calls on MAHC to release all relevant information so that collaboration can be meaningful and supported by fully and properly informed stakeholders.
“It is crucial for the MAHC board of directors to recognize that the people of Muskoka are not easily misled while MAHC disregards the dedicated staff of doctors and medical professionals at South Muskoka Hospital and the voices from the community.
“SSMHC was given assurances that the final report submission to Minister of Health, Sylvia Jones, would be delayed until a fair and workable model for the two hospitals was agreed upon. We accept nothing less and expect all levels of government to honour this commitment.
“We urge MAHC to Keep the Promise and heed the concerns of the 61 doctors and healthcare professionals who strongly oppose MAHC’s version.
SSMHC ends saying it firmly supports the physicians’ Care Close to Home – Version2.
“We encourage the public to voice its concerns with the Made in Muskoka model and to show support for the Care Close to Home – Version Two 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.”
EMAIL: [email protected]
30 years of TRUSTED ‘Local Online Journalism’
SINCE MAY 20, 1994
Twitter: @muskokatoday, Facebook: mclairmont1
SUBSCRIBE for $30 by e-transferring to [email protected]
Mail cheque to MuskokaTODAY.com Box 34 Gravenhurst, Ont. P1P 1T5
And include your email address to get stories sent to your inbox
