NEW GRAVENHURST ‘HEALTH HUB’ WELL ON ITS WAY TO OPENING YEAR FROM NOW NEXT TO TOWN HALL

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

GRAVENHURST — A plan to open a new “Health Hub” here in a year looks well on its way.

The proposal would finally see the second floor of the Cottage Country Family Health Team’s clinic next to the town hall finished off by January 2026.

With a new doctor due there in June, the vision was well-received by the mayor and council this afternoon.

Committee members were happy with the response from council today. Left, Rotarians Chris Tyrrell, Bruce Hemphill, Tom Long, Marsha Barnes and CCFT vice chair Dr. Keith Cross and the clinic’s executive director Trish Mintz. Photos Mark Clairmont

Rotarian Bruce Hemphill led a presentation on behalf of the project proponent CCFHT, for a $1.7 million retrofit. When completed its third phase would be fitted out to accommodate other new health tenants including x-ray services and more doctors if available.

The group is asking the town to commit $200,000 to the first phase of a $750,000 renovation of “halls and walls.”

The community-led group would raise another $1 million to complete the other two phases by 2027.

Tenant rents would contribute to those eventual extra costs of new office space, beyond the initial lights and washrooms.

Currently the space is wide open and unfinished.

Hemphill also wants the Town of Gravenhurst to help them secure money from the province in the amount of another $200,000. He has already approached PC Graydon Smith.

Rotary has committed $50,000 to assist with fundraising with $100,000 from CCFHT.

And positive interest has been shown from District of Muskoka Chair Jeff Lehman for $200,000.

The South Muskoka Hospital Foundation has also been contacted (updated).

It will cost $750,000 to complete the basic infrastructure needed to start leasehold improvements and begin relocating staff and services to make clinical space for physicians and NPs etc. Once this space is done tenants will start to generate income that can help with Phases 2 and 3.
Rotary has committed $50,000 which will be used over the project as needed to assist with kick-starting the fundraising events.
Only Rotary and CCFHT are firmly committed now.

Dr. Keith Cross, vice chair of the CCFHT, said the 12,000 square feet of space is “begging” to be renovated well over a decade after being built. It is owned by the CCFHT health team — and the land is owned by the town.

The second floor is wide open and unfinished well over a decade after being built. Photo Rotary

Hemphill said with 6,000 people in Gravenhurst with an unattached doctor — “half the town’s permanent population” — he called that a “public emergency” deserving of the town’s full support.

The first year would reduce that number by 2,000 patients and in the long-term could lead to several more doctors coming and 12-hour service every day.

The vision was developed by CFHT and is their project. It has also been endorsed by the Muskoka and Area Ontario Health Team.

It’s based on something called the ‘Periwinkle Model,’ designed by former federal health minister Jane Philpott.

Mayor Heidi Lorenz said the TOG is aware and “who doesn’t agree” with the need for more and better health care.

She said the town has already been working on the health front to help recruit more physicians and health care services.

CAO Scott Lucas said staff is working with a district-wide Health Human Resources task force initiative as part of a Muskoka regional recruitment efforts.

Lorenz spoke favourably, telling Hemphill the group will hear back from the town later this month about joining the partnership.

With the town budget already approved, funds would likely come out of reserves.

Opening space on the second floor would allow existing private health care services like Dynacare and Paramed, which provides home health care and wound support, to move to the second floor. Thus freeing up ground floor space for primary care providers.

Rotarian Bruce Hemphill said “half” of Gravenhurst’s permanent population is without a primary care provider and in its first year the project could see that number reduced by a third. Photo Rotarian Greg Poole

Doctors on hand, like Tom Irvine and David Hillyard, love the idea

“It’s great for the town,” added fellow physician Arden Todd.

And “if you build it, they will come,” agreed Danny Daniels.

Another impetus for the completion is the competition for primary care.

Orillia just announced it will house new health services in its town hall building.

And Huntsville has provided the same space in its former library to doctors there. And is offering financial assistance of up to $80,000 for doctors who open an office; along with golf memberships and other community perks not dissimilar to what Gravenhurst did over a decade ago with some similar success.

The new clinic will in Gravenhurst will not be town-run and nor would the doctors by municipal employees. They would work for the CCFHT.

Hemphill answered the new clinic won’t compete with new hospitals planned and that they are also in conversation with Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare about seeking some services.

He said the group is already out promoting the vision throughout the town with meetings planned for the Probus Club and residents of the Pine Ridge retirement community this month.

See their website https://gravenhursthealthhub.ca/

A large number of Rotarians and local doctors turned out today at council to show their support.
The Cottage Family Health Team is the lead proponent of the project to renovate 12,000 square feet of empty space above it’s exisitng office off Bethune Drive in Gravenhurst next to the town hall.

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