The province literally backed the bank up to Barrie’s RVH Friday afternoon.
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre is receiving almost $9.5 million more in Ontario funding for 2023-2024, it was announced, a 3.6 per cent increase on the hospital’s 2022-2023 budget of $490 million.
“We can’t provide the kind of world-class healthcare we are known for without this assistance,” said Gail Hunt, RVH president and CEO.
This funding will help RVH reduce its surgical wait list, along with increasing the number of surgeries for hip and knee replacements, as well as vascular and cataract surgeries.
Barrie-Springwater-Oro-Medonte MPP Doug Downey said this funding will also help people access emergency department services, trauma, pediatrics, medicine, obstetrics, cancer care and mental health services at RVH
“We are nothing without our health,” said Barrie-Innisfil MPP Andrea Khanjin. “This (funding) is so when people need their healthcare system, it’s there.”
RVH is also receiving $750,000 in one-time funding for the Barrie and Area Ontario Health Team.
“(This) will strengthen local services, making it easier for patients to navigate the system and transition between providers,” Khanjin said. “Ontario Heath Teams are an effective way of organizing and delivering care that is more connected to patients in their local communities.”
And from the Ontario Health Infrastructure Renewal Fund, RVH is receiving almost $72,000 to support critical upgrades and repairs, part of the province’s $208-million budget for these uses.
It will address upgrades and replacements of roofs, windows, security systems, fire alarms and backup generators.
“This funding helps ensure that critical repairs can be done in order to insure RVH is able to focus on what matters most,” Downey said, “treating and caring for patients and their families.”
This renewal funding of $72,000 in RVH’s 2022-2023 fiscal year will also increase to $85,000 in 2023-2024.
Across Ontario, the province is investing an additional $850 million in public hospitals, with all facilities receiving a minimum two per cent funding increase.
