Revised Muskoka hospital redevelopment plan ready for submission
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare's (MAHC) hospital redevelopment plan is ready for submission.
After some significant changes to the plan this week, the MAHC board unanimously approved moving forward with its stage 1.3 proposal Thursday night.
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
The hospital will allocate 10 additional beds to the Bracebridge site, bringing its total up to 46 at the future hospital, a significant increase from the initial plan of 14 beds.
"There were four options that didn't just come out of the air, we thought about them and our consultants, who have been amazing, worked through all of those options with us," said Cheryl Harrison, MAHC President and CEO. "Based on what we were hearing from the community and for the future to be able to have some flexibility and security, that's why we moved with the request for ten additional beds."
One of the options the hospital discussed was reallocating the beds from Huntsville to Bracebridge, but the preferred choice was to add 10 entirely new ones.
The MAHC board heard that these were roughly estimated to cost between $45 million and $50 million on top of the initial project but that the final numbers still need to be figured out.
With this new proposal, the Bracebridge site is expected to become a full-service, acute-care hospital.
The changes have also received the support of 45 doctors from the southern part of Muskoka.
"We truly do believe that this is a win for the citizens of south Muskoka," said Bruce Kruger, chair of the Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee.
Kruger and his group have voiced their concerns about the hospital's plan for a year, supporting physicians at the current Bracebridge facility who opposed what was being presented.
Those doctors created their proposal that called for 60 beds at the new Bracebridge site.
While Kruger and the doctors support this significant change, it's only partially what they envisioned.
"At the ministry level, that's where we really then have to pressure and explain to the ministry just exactly what our needs are and the fact that it is still not correct," Kruger added.
MAHC's consultants will now put the final touches on the submission before sending it to the province next month.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It looks quite real': Two Ontarians lose money to fake phone scam
About 85 per cent of Canadians have a smartphone and once you have one they’re hard to live without. The latest smartphones can cost as much as $2,000, so if you’re trying to save money, make sure you don’t get caught in a fake smartphone scam.
America reaches Election Day and a stark choice between Trump and Harris
A presidential campaign marked by upheaval and rancor approached its finale on Election Day as Americans decided whether to send Donald Trump back to the White House or elevate Kamala Harris to the Oval Office.
New homeowners find skeleton in attic 15 years after previous occupant disappeared
Homeowners in France have discovered a skeleton in the attic of an outbuilding while undertaking renovation work.
Months after VRBO booking, Taylor Swift fan told home 'not available' during Vancouver concert
A frustrated Taylor Swift fan is speaking out after being pushed from a short-term rental she booked for the upcoming Vancouver leg of the superstar’s Eras Tour.
North Korean troops in Russia are shelled by Ukrainian forces, an official says
North Korean troops recently deployed to help Russia in its war with Ukraine have come under Ukrainian fire, a Kyiv official said Tuesday.
Dutch police arrest a suspect in a botched art heist of Andy Warhol screenprints
Police arrested a 23-year-old man Tuesday on suspicion of involvement in a botched art heist at a gallery in the southern Netherlands targeting four valuable Andy Warhol screenprints.
Tim Hortons parent Restaurant Brands misses sales estimates on muted demand
Restaurant Brands missed estimates for quarterly revenue on Tuesday due to weak demand across key businesses such as Tim Hortons, Burger King and international markets including China and the Middle East.
Canada Post, union, still disagree over weekend delivery following weekend talks
Canada Post and the union representing its workers are commenting on how weekend talks for a new contract went, with the employer calling them less productive than they'd hoped and the union claiming their employer is focused on flexibility to deliver parcels at the lowest possible cost.
A week after Spain's floods, families hold out hope that loved ones are not among the dead
Francisco Murgui went out to try to salvage his motorbike when the water started to rise.