Community Membership Update
January 2025

Dear Community Members of the Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee (SSMHC):

With the news of a provincial election call likely next week, please help us make the future of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital an election issue in this riding.

The Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee advocates that we need at least a 60-bed acute care hospital in South Muskoka. Support Care Close to Home!

--> TELL THE CANDIDATES. AT YOUR DOOR. IN THE COMMUNITY. ACCEPT NOTHING LESS FOR YOUR VOTE. <--

WE WILL BE TRACKING ANY AND ALL PUBLIC COMMITMENTS ABOUT THE HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENTS ON OUR WEBSITE: WWW.SSMH.CA

MAHC's plan is currently with Province for Stage 1.3 review with Ontario Health. The timing for this is advantageous. NOW IS THE TIME TO ACT!

Thank you for your ongoing support!

The Latest from SSMHC:

SSMHC Requests Meeting with the Minister of Health

January 24, 2025: Letter to the Premier and Minister of Health requesting a meeting. Read the full letter here. Copies of the letter will be sent to local officials next week.

Our list of requested changes are set out below in this Newsletter.

INTRODUCING our new logo for 2025!

We are using the same recognizable colours from our cause, including the Blue "H" Hospital sign.

Our old Logos aren't retired, just a fresh look!

The Year That's Been and the Year Ahead for SSMHC...

January 17, 2025: New Year’s Message from the Committee Chair

Get Your Window Sign For the Election!

Email ssmh@ssmh.ca and include you name, address and telephone number as part of your request. A sign will be delivered - all free of charge!

GET ENGAGED!

Donations: Friends of the South Muskoka Hospital Committee

At the option of all donors, we will be posting names of contributors who donate at least $75 to our cause.

Urgent: Calling for

Letters of Support

Are you part of a community group or local business that would like to publicly express support for the cause of Save South Muskoka Hospital? If so, please let us know!

We intend to publish letters of support on our website!

Election Support

Help make the future of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital an election issue!

Get the latest on our website - ssmh.ca

46 Beds Are NOT Enough!

The community has not "signed off" on 46-beds! The Save South Muskoka Hospital Committee, comprised of community volunteers including medical professionals, has identified that at least 60 acute care beds are required at the Future South Muskoka Hospital to avoid harm to the health, safety and well-being of the residents of South Muskoka.

South Muskoka Memorial Hospital continues to run over capacity ROUTINELY today with its current allotment of 67 beds. South Muskoka is growing in population and aging. MAHC has not provided a workable transportation plan to support this community.

Local doctors continue to encourage ongoing dialog and changes to MAHC's plan at the Ontario Ministry of Health. And it is clear that there remains significant opposition in the community to the Made in Muskoka plan for many good reasons, as we recently identified in our position statement of October 18.

South Muskoka needs and deserves an equitable healthcare plan that continues to be modelled on the Care Close to Home V2 with at least 60 acute care beds at the future South Muskoka site.

SSMHC Requested Changes - Presented to Minister of Health, Hon. Sylvia Jones, MPP (Jan. 24, 2025)

As described, along with our letter to the Minister of January 24 (available on our website), we requested the following changes to the MAHC Made in Muskoka model:

Increased Acute Care Beds in South Muskoka: Number of acute care beds at the future South Muskoka site to at least 60 beds
Care Close to Home: elimination of mandatory transfer to the Huntsville site for any condition requiring six or more days of inpatient care
Physician Recruitment and Retention: Input from local physicians must be obtained and respected in the planning process
Equitable allocation of ALC: Allocation of all ALC beds to Huntsville site is short-sighted relative to other concerns raised in this list
Site Selection Re-evaluated: MAHC’s selected site in Bracebridge is a retired quarry, with identified poor soil conditions. Remediation costs are grossly unreasonable and this will also impact future expansion possibilities at this site
Transportation Plan (for the Realities of Muskoka): Ontario Health must mandate MAHC to produce a workable transportation plan that reflects realities of life in Muskoka (i.e. remote communities with high levels of wealth inequality and lack of public transit) in order to support a primary hospital in the northern part of Muskoka away from the majority of the population
Realistic Analysis and Further Public Consultation Concerning Transfer Rates to Huntsville Site: Additional disclosure, consultation and planning to address transfer rates between hospital sites for public’s awareness

Join Us!

If you have experience in healthcare or are otherwise keen to save the future of South Muskoka Memorial Hospital, we want to hear from you!

Please Contact Us

Please also spread the word about our Community Member ship

Our cause is driven by engagement from the community. Thank you for your support!

NEW! Other News Sites and Reference Materials on our Website!

Roma Kassian of Port Carling has kindly offered to allow us to post her original letter from June 2024, as updated with a new foreword from the SSMHC. Thank you, Roma, for your community engagement and advocacy!