Defend Public Healthcare

The Ontario government  has given another $4.5 million to Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC).  The cash is being rolled into the hospital's operational base funding  this year to help the hospital deal with its deficit.  The hospital had already closed one of its sites, raising the ire of the local community. As reported earlier , the hospital had a $6 million deficit and the local community was fighting for the hospital . The North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN says that it submitted  in April 2010 a report to the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care that MAHC’s deficit could not be achieved through further changes to the organization. Additional funding would be required. For its part, the hospital appears quite confident that it will get another $1.5 million next year. The LHIN claims that of 155 hospital corporations in Ontario, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare was the only organization unable to sign their Hospital Service Accountability Agreement due to their inability to commit

The Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) hospital is refusing to sign an "accountability agreement" with its Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), fearing it could lead to further service cuts and the loss of one of its two remaining sites (Huntsville District Memorial Hospital and the South Muskoka Memorial Hospital in Bracebridge). The hospital has already closed a third site recently. Board chair Sven Miglin explained “We do not believe that is the best intent for this community. This board firmly believes that Muskoka requires two acute care hospitals.” Local newspapers report that since 2009, the organization has found approximately $3.1 million in savings by closing beds, reducing staff, and shutting down the Burk’s Falls & District Health Centre. MAHC is currently forecasting a $4.2 million deficit for 2010/2011. The deficit is projected to grow to $6 million in 2011/2012. The organization’s working capital deficit is estimated at approximately $11.2 million

Huntsville town and district councillor Fran Coleman has confirmed the area's LHIN has agreed to discuss the deficit recovery plan for the Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare hospital at the town and district council meeting Oct. 18. “As a community leader, if the community is telling me health care is paramount to them, I think I have an obligation to listen and take that issue forward,” she said. Coleman hopes to get some answers regarding how the debt will be dealt with.  “It’s getting drastic. We’re nickel-and-diming it (the hospital) to death by cutting things like cafeterias and operating room hours. How are we ever going to get to the bottom of it when we’re already umpteen million in the hole?” “We’re just oozing right now. There’s going to be one day when the artery is severed and it’s just going to gush.” dallan@cupe.ca