The idea that was ignored in 2019 could have led to better results already

Getting tired of hearing about a $1 billion hospital proposal that doesn’t even meet the needs of the community?

Tired of feeling ignored and hearing about all these tax dollars and fundraising dollars they want from the same wallets?

Wish there was a less bureaucratic, time efficient, cost-effective, and prudent idea to support?

There is one. It was proposed by Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) board members and community stakeholders (including healthcare providers) back in 2019 during the process to develop a plan – a letter was even sent to Premier Doug Ford and the Minister of Health.

One of the people who was part of that planning is former Huntsville and District councillor Tim Withey. He is a former LHIN board member, former hospital board member (pre-and-post MAHC), and one of the people behind the scenes helping make the decision for Huntsville to save Bracebridge’s hospital the first time around (yeah, those are facts, look them up).

He recently did an extensive interview on The Chris O Show about the hospital redevelopment situation – including providing some intriguing background – and reminding everyone of an idea that would see each hospital be improved in terms of size, equipment, and staffing.

“Here we are at this juncture, they’re still pushing ahead with this two, brand new hospital concept which I don’t agree with and have said before I don’t agree with,” says Tim. “It’s ridiculous to spend that much money in two communities that basically serve (around) 100,000 people, taking in the catchment areas north and west, and then (a bit more) with the seasonal population.”

The 2019 idea (which was thought of well before that) – was part of the discussions at the beginning stage years ago – would also require a fraction of the cost of this bloated plan from MAHC, which continues to go up in cost while reducing the services at each hospital.

What was the idea?

A phased-in renovation and expansion using parts of the existing hospital sites to create a four-story building in Bracebridge and a three-story building in Huntsville.

While the total costs over time were estimated to be around $190 million per hospital (perhaps a little more with inflation), the upfront and total costs would be less, the proverbial shovels in the ground would be much faster, both could be full-service hospitals with new equipment and better staff.

In that proposal, the province would fund 90 per cent of construction costs, leaving the community responsible for the remaining 10 per cent as well as additional costs such as equipment, furniture, fixtures, land acquisition, land servicing and revenue generating spaces such as parking lots and gift shops.

The ignored proposal that would see renovations and additions to the existing sites – which are more than appropriate for these communities – as well has have funds for better equipment and more staff.

Basically, the community funding would end up being in the $40 to 50 million range instead of $150 million and growing.

“If your local share is upwards of $150 million, where we going to get that?” asks Tim incredulously.

Let’s look at what has been committed so far – remembering these amounts are being stretched over several years and even a decade – Huntsville $10M, Bracebridge $10M, Gravenhurst $1M – Muskoka Lakes and Georgian Bay committed zero dollars and Lake of Bays hasn’t announced yet what (if any) funds they will commit.

That brings us to $20 million from the lower tier municipalities. The District has committed $77.3 milliion. We’re up to 97.3 million. East Parry Sound’s portion is $9.5 million. MAHC is committing “assets” of $38.3 million in value. And the two hospital foundations are committing $70 million.

That all sounds good in sounds bites, press releases and talking points. But let’s remember that the project would still need the province to fund it and the hospital foundation amounts are stratospherically higher than any other fundraising goals they’ve achieved.

And, as this writer and podcast host noted in the show: the funding they want is from all the same wallets – the same taxpayers are being asked to donate to all the different parts of this project. People forget it’s not government money, it’s your money, it’s my money, it’s our money and they’re going after the same well time and again.

Plus, it’s a lot easier to get the province to quickly commit funding to a timely, cost-effective plan than what was eventually presented – and in truth denied since there have been several reductions in service in the most recent drafts of the MAHC redevelopment plans.

“There are obviously limited funds in the system, so these big capital plans get in the queue, there are five or six steps in the process, and MAHC is still in stage 1b,” explains Tim. “So, when you’re thinking of time, this plan for the two brand-new hospitals is at least ten years out.”

All this uncertainty is also keeping MAHC from recruiting and retaining quality doctors, nurses and other health professionals. If they’re planning on moving somewhere to start a family and build a life, they want to know where things will be in five or ten or 20 years.

Two longtime physicians are retiring and, despite extensive and intensive attempts, have not been able to find replacements. This is a recurring problem.

Tim recalls chatting with a group of young doctors, friends of his son’s, who were in town around six years ago for an outdoor hockey tournament. He asked them if they would consider moving permanently to Huntsville or Bracebridge and lauded all the amazing things to do and see in Muskoka.

“The answer we got back was, ‘we don’t know what’s happening with your hospitals, so we’re not going to take that chance,’” recalls Tim. “Because they move up here and settle their family, then find out their service has been moved down the highway or eliminated, that’s not going to be good for them … that’s an anecdote, not a survey of everybody that’s ever been through here.”

It’s also interesting to note that Huntsville is the number-one choice for Northern School of Medicine medical students to do their practicums, but don’t come back or stay long term.

“They come to Huntsville to do their studies, they don’t come back to set down roots.”

Of course, to combat all this a simple solution exists. However, doing what’s right would mean being realistic, cost and time efficient, and putting bureaucratic egos aside to do right by the taxpayers and the community.

“What do we do in the meantime? We watch physicians leave and can’t recruit brand new physicians,” says Tim. “We try to cover the communities as best as possible – and the tourists, over one million people go to Algonquin Park in the summer. It’s a big problem.”

With nothing set in stone and the amount of funding needed skyrocketing on this current plan they’re pushing on the public like it’s a miracle drug, it’s time for the taxpaying public to demand better of MAHC.

“The solution for me is to renovate each location as needed,” says Tim. “Focus on attracting physicians, (nurses and staff) and making sure we have the right equipment. Two of our local, longtime family docs announced they are retiring, they’re trying to get replacements, but they can’t.”

It’s time they went back and looked at a previous idea which would give the communities what they need faster, cheaper, and better. The people need to demand it!