The following statement can be attributed to Dr. Charles Gardner, Medical Officer of Health for the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU)

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit’s Board of Health and senior management have been preparing for changes to its organizational structure and human resource allocation for the 2025 year in response to critical program pressures, increasingly constrained human resources due to funding pressures, and upcoming revisions to the Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS). 

In an effort to address these needs, the Board of Health approved a new organizational structure that will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025. These changes are necessary to strengthen our capacity in infectious disease and immunization programming, while managing within increasingly limited financial and human resources. As a result, personnel from various departments are being reassigned and additional adjustments are being made over the coming months to align with expected revisions to the OPHS that defines and guides our work, and to make optimal use of our resources.

Although our organizational changes will formally take place on Jan. 1, 2025 the transition of staff, and the planning and implementation of program changes will continue throughout 2025. During this period of adjustment, the health unit will continue its work with partners, clients and the communities to fulfill our mission -- With our communities, we prevent disease and injury, and promote and protect health for all in Simcoe Muskoka.

On behalf of the health unit’s leadership and Board of Health, I recognize that this is a substantial change and wish to commend our staff for their dedication and professionalism during this challenging situation. I know that together, step-by-step we will come through this change successfully.

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