Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) has reached another milestone in its plan to expand the current north campus in Barrie and build a new south campus in Innisfil.
On Thursday, RVH submitted Stage 1 of its expansion plan to the provincial government. This phase of the capital plan will see the current north campus on Georgian Drive double in size over the next decade, while developing the new south campus.
“This is an expansion plan driven by explosive population growth and a commitment to avoid hallway medicine,” RVH president and CEO Janice Skot says in a release. “To ensure RVH can continue to meet residents’ health-care needs in the future, we must secure timely approvals for the plan so we can get shovels in the ground and bring health care – and jobs – closer to home so as to proceed quickly.”
The Stage 1 submission comes after Premier Doug Ford recently visited RVH to announce a $2.5-million planning grant, putting the project closer to formal government approval. The provincial government also approved a minister’s zoning order (MZO), which will accelerate development of the south campus.
RVH says its “one-system/two-site” expansion plan will see the north and south campuses work together to care for residents throughout the region. Officials have said patient care will be integrated, not duplicated, and therefore construction on RVH’s two campuses must proceed at the same time.
The first phase of the north campus expansion is expected to be completed over the next decade. It includes fitting out empty shelled space in the current facility, building a large expansion which will add more than 240 beds, expand critical care, surgical suites and the neonatal intensive care and allow RVH to enhance almost every service.
RVH will also simultaneously develop the first phase of its south campus at Innisfil Beach Road and Yonge Street, beginning with an ambulatory health hub built within 10 years. The hub will focus on outpatient clinics, day procedures, minor medical procedures and diagnostic tests. This phase will also include an urgent care centre. The south campus will evolve to become a full-service hospital within 20 years.
Community consultation has included more than 63,500 engagement interactions over the past three years. That consultation continues as RVH begins detailed site planning for the south campus.
“There will continue to be many opportunities for area residents, patients, families and partners to provide input and shape our plans,” says Skot. “Developing a hospital is complex and timelines can be long. With support of the Ontario government, we look forward to moving quickly through the province’s five-stage approval process.”
