It was moving day for patients, doctors and nurses at Georgian Bay General Hospital in Penetanguishene, as that hospital site prepares for closure.
Some patients from Pentanguishene were taken to the hospital in Midland, as part of a plan to cut costs and improve the hospital’s bottom line.
“We have two issues, we have an operating deficit of a million dollars, and we also have long-term debt,” said Georgian Bay General Hospital CEO Karen MacGrath. “Our long-term debt is up to 12 million dollars. That's a significant problem for us.”
But not all services will be relocated immediately.
The finance department and the dialysis unit will stay in Penetanguishene for now.
Some people in the community said they are upset about the move because the hospital was one of the few medical facilities that provided services in French.
“The doctors were French speaking, the nurses were French speaking, you could express yourself in your language and feel comfortable,” said Penetanguishene resident Anne Robitaille.
The hospital CEO says they are working to make sure the new Midland facility will meet the requirements of a French language designation.
Another issue is determining who will take over the empty space.
Pentanguishene Mayor Gerry Marshall said he’s been trying to find a new tenant, but said his priority is finding enough money to maintain health care services in North Simcoe County.
“How can we have two professional accounting groups come up 1.1 million dollars apart on a funding question using the same formula?” wondered Marshall. “Something is amiss and it needs to be fixed.”
