Last May I made it very clear to the MAHC board that any proposed redevelopment model for South Muskoka Memorial Hospital must have the support of doctors in south Muskoka. At MAHC’s board meeting this afternoon they will be considering the passing of a resolution that will essentially ‘weld the train to the tracks’ on a hospital redevelopment model that is not supported by our doctors.
Disappointment is an understatement. To pass a resolution that gives direction to their consultants to start the ‘detailed planning and documentation for a Stage 1.3 submission’ is in fact giving their consultants the marching orders to design a model that MAHC can approve. That is a clear message that MAHC has not been listening to the repeated concerns they have heard from south Muskoka stakeholders.
Two weeks ago I facilitated a meeting between MAHC and south Muskoka doctor representatives. Productive discussions, willingness to share information with a commitment for continued dialogue were very positive takeaways from this meeting. It is beyond comprehension that MAHC would at this critical juncture wish to upset this effort by forging ahead with an unsupported model. I can only draw the conclusion that there is no intent to find a path forward.
Muskoka is unique in so many ways. MAHC has failed to acknowledge this uniqueness in their development model. They are applying a regional model that does not fit, that does not resonate, that will not meet the varying needs of our community.
Any further work on MAHC’s model needs to come to a full stop. I have lost trust in MHAC’s process. I am concerned that this board is unable to deliver a model that has the fundamental endorsement of key stakeholders including our doctors. Any model that lacks doctor support does not have my support. I have expressed my concerns very clearly to Chair Uffelman in a phone conversation this morning. I also spoke with MPP Smith sharing that I have lost faith in MAHC’s process and would welcome his intervention.
What the MAHC Board decides to do at their meeting this afternoon will certainly dictate next steps.