The Ontario government is investing more than $9.8 million to support hospital operations at Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), with the goal of reducing wait times and improving access to care for patients in Barrie and across Simcoe County.
The province announced $9,808,200 in funding for RVH as part a broader $1.1-billion increase in hospital operating funding across Ontario. The province says that represents a four per cent increase in annual support for the fourth consecutive year.
The funding will support RVH's core clinical services, including helping keep the emergency department operating, addressing inflationary and wage pressures, and reducing wait times for diagnostic imaging and surgical procedures.
Services expected to benefit include MRI and CT scans, cardiac care, stroke and neurological services, orthopedic procedures and cataract surgeries.
"Ensuring our health care system continues to meet the needs of our growing community has been a priority for our government," Barrie–Springwater–Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said in a news release.
"This additional funding for RVH will help strengthen frontline services, improve access to care, and support the dedicated health-care professionals who work tirelessly for our community every day," Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin added in the release.
The announcement comes as Ontario says it plans to invest approximately $64 billion in health infrastructure over the next decade. The province says the funding will support more than 50 major hospital projects and create approximately 3,000 new hospital beds across Ontario.
"This investment will allow RVH to continue delivering the highest standard of care while reducing wait lists and wait times for patients and families, for generations to come, Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said in a release"
The province also noted RVH is receiving more than $2.2 million through the Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund in 2025-26 to support repairs and upgrades to hospital infrastructure.
