After-hours medical care still on chopping block

by Rob Learn

Mar 19, 2008

BURK’S FALLS – After-hours urgent care at the Burk’s Falls and District Health Centre (BFDHC) remains on the chopping block with the axe poised to fall in less than two weeks.

CEO of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) Barry Lockhart says that the Urgent Care Clinic (UCC) remains scheduled to be cut on March 31.

Lockhart says to keep the evening and weekend urgent care drop-in clinic operating, “an alternative funding source would have to be found.”

That has yet to happen.

The MAHC, which administers the BFDHC and hospitals in Huntsville and Bracebridge is facing a $1.5 million deficit for the next operating year. To try and balance the budget the MAHC is eliminating funding for doctors to man the UCC on evenings and weekends. for a savings of about $100,000.

Burk’s Falls reeve Cathy Still says she and other municipal leaders are lobbying for alternative funding, but are having trouble getting the attention of the upper echelons of the Ministry of Health.

“Norm Miller (Parry Sound-Muskoka MPP) has being working hard for us down in Toronto to try and get us a meeting with (Minister of Health George Smitherman). But (Smitherman) still won’t see us,” said Still. “We’ve written letters to his office and we haven’t gotten a response, but we’re not giving up yet.”

Still says what is frustrating her is that the Burk’s Falls clinic seems to be an anomaly and that there doesn’t seem to be a funding program to keep it running.

“We’re the only one in the darn province and (the Ministry of Health) keeps saying there is nothing out there for us. I’m not ready to take that answer yet,” said Still.

Sundridge mayor Elgin Schneider can’t believe that the MAHC is willing to let the clinic close.

“All closing it is going to do is throw that many more people to Huntsville or to Monday morning,” said Schneider.

Still says she knows that unless something comes through from the Ministry of Health or one of the two Local Health Integration Networks soon, a big cut to healthcare is coming to Burk’s Falls.

“I was talking to a doctor there and they haven’t made up a new schedule for after March 31,” said Still.