UPDATE: NEW HOSPITAL TALKS, PLANS ARE ALREADY UNDERWAY BETWEEN MAHC, MINISTRY OF HEALTH

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

MUSKOKA — MAHC and the Ministry of Health are already well in to talks about plans and a submission for Muskoka’s two new hospitals.

During this morning’s Alexander transitional care beds announced we caught up with Cheryl Harrison, Muskoka Algonquin president and CEO, for an update on last month’s 1.3 stage proposals to the province and asked about any progress this early on.

“Absolutely” the two have been in contact, she said, with MAHC answering preliminary questions and the two have set up future meetings.

“They have definitely been in contact with us, always trying to get more details. We have regularly scheduled meetings with them. And they’ve already called to get clarification.”

MAHC CEO and president Cheryl Harrison met privately with MPP Graydon Smith this morning before and after the Alexander beds announcement. She added that the local hospitals are already in further talks with the province after submitting their redevelopment plan that at present calls for 57 beds in south Muskoka. She said separately that they have led to other clarifications and questions along with already scheduling future meetings with Ministry of Health officials.

Harrison was also asked if she’s heard any more about the “fallout” between north and south Muskoka residents about the sites, which Harrison does not consider a “competition.”

“You’ve heard me say this before, it’s not about the beds, it’s about the programming.

So being able to continue to focus on the programs we’re going to do and not compromise any of those. That’s what we’re excited about.”

Pressed for comment about the bed split of 46 (CORRECTION) in Bracebridge and 121 (CORRECTION) in Huntsville, the CEO, president and redevelopment committee member said: “It’s based on the population of Muskoka and area. It’s not based on the population of Huntsville and Bracebridge. We are one organization. We’re a regional health care centre in my mind. And so with that we’ve got two footprints of hospitals. And so what can we do within those walls and beyond to serve the 60-plus thousand people who are in Muskoka and beyond?

“So I don’t look at it as a ‘competition.’ And I don’t look at it as one site — as having more beds or not. It’s about the programming that we’re going to do.”

Finally on the subject of the overall cost, when asked about skyrocketing cost projections, she concluded by saying the billion-dollar-plus construction isn’t necessarily a 50-50 split — or $500 million each.

“Again we refer to the overall budget, because at this point the details of what it might cost to build — certain parts of our programming could cost more at one than the other. It’s too soon to be able to tear apart the details of the finances.”

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