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Masking is mandatory when interacting with any staff, patients or visitors within the hospitals, and/or when in a patient space/environment, including patient's room or a waiting area.
To ensure safe, high-quality care, MAHC will temporarily move labour and delivery services to Huntsville District Memorial Hospital (HDMH) from South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH), starting March 11, 2025. This decision addresses urgent challenges and will be reassessed at six and nine months, with a goal to restore services at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital (SMMH) as soon as possible.
Strengthening Regional Obstetrical Care- January 21, 2026
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) and Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH) are working together through a joint obstetrical care working group to strengthen care for patients and families across Muskoka, Algonquin, and surrounding communities.
This work builds on a strong foundation of collaboration and trusted clinical relationships and is focused on improving coordination, consistency, and continuity of care, while ensuring services remain safe, sustainable, and patient-centred over the long term.
Patient Safety Remains the Top Priority
Patient safety continues to guide all planning and decision-making. Obstetrical care is being delivered safely across the region today using established clinical pathways, transfer protocols, and supports.
There are no changes to access or how care is delivered as a result of this update.
The joint working group is a planning and coordination initiative that will be developed in phases over time.
Its purpose is to:
Clinicians, staff, and system partners will be engaged as this work progresses.
Current Obstetrical Services
As part of a temporary service arrangement already in place:
Prenatal care, obstetrical ultrasound, and laboratory testing continue to be available in South Muskoka. Patients are supported through established pathways to ensure appropriate and timely access to care.
Looking Ahead
This work is complex and must be guided by clinical expertise, workforce realities, and system planning. While there is no specific timeline for future decisions at this time, the working group reflects a shared commitment to strengthening obstetrical care in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way.
Updates will be added to this page as milestones are reached and as planning progresses.
Continue to visit this page for the most up-to-date information.
We recognize how important access to obstetrical services is for individuals, families, and communities. MAHC and OSMH remain committed to transparency, engagement, and keeping patients and the public informed as this work continues.
General Information
As part of our commitment to quality and patient safety, MAHC participates in the Managing Obstetrical Risk Efficiently (moreOB) program. The moreOB program is a three-year professional development program for birthing units that integrates evidence-based practice standards and guidelines with current and evolving safety concepts, principles, and tools to support the highest standard of care in a collaborative environment with effective teamwork and communication.
Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare provides low-risk obstetrical services that are patient centred at our Level I hospital site in Huntsville.
A team of family physicians, midwives and nursing staff bring a family-friendly approach to compassionate care during labour and delivery, and post-partum care after your baby is born. Your birthing experience is an individual one with personalized care by a dedicated team of providers that can also include other health professionals, such as surgical and anaesthesiology teams when, for example, caesarean sections are necessary, allied health, and consultative access to Obstetricians and Paediatricians as required.
Learn more about accessing prenatal care in Muskoka. Learn more about what to expect at the hospital in our preadmission handout.
During labour, a midwife or an obstetrical nurse provides one-on-one care. You may designate two support people to be present with you during labour.
There are many different options to help you through your labour, including birthing aids like a birthing ball or stool, and labour tub with jets, and pain medications and epidurals. After your baby arrives, nurses and midwives are available to assist with breastfeeding initiation. You can also be connected with a lactation consultant.
After your baby arrives, family and other visitors are welcome to visit in keeping with our guidelines for visiting.
Please refer to the list in the Overnight Stay section of our website. As well, you may want to bring:
Location and Contact Information
Huntsville District
Memorial Hospital Site
Phone: 705-789-2311, ext. 2262
Fax: 705-789-3480
Please consider calling the unit as labour commences, so we can be prepared for your arrival. If there is an emergency, please go directly to your closest Emergency Department.
FAQs for Obstetrics Patients & Families
Tour the Birthing Unit!
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