Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare may possibly be moving all obstetrics and surgery from the hospital in Huntsville to the one in Bracebridge.
They’re considering the change because of a $2.4 million deficit in the budget.
A petition against the move was started by a former Huntsville mayor and has been backed by current Mayor Scott Aitchison and his council.
It’s circulating in doctors’ offices and pharmacies around the community.
“Lots of people north of Huntsville need the hospital here.” said Aitchison. “We are also much busier in the summer months with all of our visitors.”
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare is also looking at a number of other options, including building a hospital between the two towns.
Huntsville District Memorial Hospital CEO Natalia Bubela says the idea of some services only being offered at one hospital is similar to a system they already have in place.
“The hybrid model is an attempt to bring the total cost down from an operational perspective as well as a billed perspective to maintain services in both communities,” she said. “We currently have a practice in place when it comes to surgery: every other week one site is on call for both hospitals, and on the other week it's the other site that's on call.”
Buebela says the public will be consulted before anything is finalized.
