The decision to move ahead with one new hospital for Muskoka and close Huntsville District Memorial and South Muskoka Memorial in Bracebridge got mixed reaction on Thursday.
Melanie McNabb says she is disappointed the board of directors decision to close the hospitals but she understands spending $400 million for a new hospital is cheaper option than retro-fitting the two other hospitals.
“I guess practicality dictates that it would best to have it in the middle so that it services the most amount of people,” adds McNabb.
Port Sydney is half way between Bracebridge and Huntsville and some locals would welcome a hospital but others disagree.
“Yeah that’s kind of ridiculous, so what about the people that don’t have cars,” says Muskoka resident Matt Smith. “I can see how it would definitely be an inconvenience for people up here.
The Chair of the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare board Charles Forret says nothing has been decided as far as the location of the new hospital and Ministry of Health still needs to sign off on the decision.
“Nothing is going to change in what they receive for at least 15 years,” says Forret.
The decision is part of a 50 year plan to meet requirements laid out by the Ministry of Health.
