Barrie, Innisfil, and the surrounding region are experiencing high population growth. Alongside increasingly complex patient needs, an aging population and the unique demographics of the Simcoe Muskoka area, our hospital is struggling to meet the needs of the patients we serve.
To ensure our health centre is there for you when you need it, we have developed a Capital Expansion Plan that will add new programs and expand existing services at our Barrie campus, while also building a new campus in Innisfil. The plan will increase access to high-quality, specialized care for the region, and bring more services close to home.
“Vibrant communities need vibrant health centres. RVH’s expansion plan is a promise to do our part to end hallway medicine, long wait-times, and long drives. Residents of Simcoe Muskoka deserve world-class care in the region they choose to call home.”
Gail Hunt, RVH President and Chief Executive Officer
The Plan
Barrie Campus (3 to 5 Years*)
Redevelopment at the existing health centre will bring expanded regional and acute care programs such as:
- Cardiac
- Cancer
- Dialysis
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
- Maternal and Child
- Outpatient clinics
- Rotary Place (to allow for more teaching and research opportunities)
Innisfil Campus (5 to 8 Years*)
A new health hub will be built at the southwest corner of Yonge Street and Innisfil Beach Road, across from the Innisfil civic campus and include services such as:
- An urgent care centre
- Day surgery capacity
- A diagnostic centre with medical imaging and lab
- Outpatient clinics
- 180 new beds for transitional care, rehab, and seniors’ care
Having these services available in Innisfil will help alleviate some of the pressure on the Barrie Campus and create more access to care for patients.
*Timelines are estimates and start after government approval of RVH’s Capital Expansion Plan Stage 1.3 Functional Program.
Beyond the 10-year mark, proposals for additional expansion of the Barrie campus will include inpatient units, operating rooms, emergency, and critical care. At the Innisfil campus, a full-service hospital is planned for the 20-year mark.
RVH has taken a proactive step and developed this cost-efficient, re-phased plan that prioritizes urgent needs, meets our growing population’s demands, and aligns with the health centre’s Strategic Plan – Vitally You.
- We’re growing: Innisfil, Barrie, and the rest of South Simcoe’s population is expected to grow by 65% over the next 20 years (2021 to 2041) – almost double the provincial average. RVH is increasingly concerned about its ability and readiness to meet the high capacity demands of our region.
- We’re aging: By the time our population doubles, 1 in 3 of us will be seniors using the hospital 4x more than younger people and staying in-hospital longer.
- We aren’t as healthy: Our region faces higher rates of obesity, as well as higher tobacco and alcohol use. Additionally, 1 in 4 of us has a chronic condition, such as heart disease or cancer. These complex needs require more specialized care.
- We travel further: Every day, people from Simcoe Muskoka must travel many kilometres outside of the region for care that should be available at RVH. This not only does this cost money, but it also takes away precious time patients could be spending with their friends and family.
The Ministry of Health requires a comprehensive planning process to be completed before granting approval for the redevelopment or construction of a new health centre in Ontario. Depending on the pace of the approval process and the size of the project, it can take 3 to 8 years before construction is completed.
RVH initially submitted our Stage 1.2 proposal to the Ministry on March 30, 2022. To facilitate progress, we developed a cost-effective, re-phased plan that addresses urgent needs, supports the demands of our growing population, and aligns with our goals to expand existing services and introduce new programs. This revised Stage 1.2 plan was submitted to the Ministry on September 25, 2024.
We are now progressing to Stage 1.3, the Functional Program phase, where we define and finalize the project’s scope, including the proposed programs and services. This stage will address key questions, such as “What staffing levels will be needed?” and “How much space will be required?”
RVH undertook years of extensive community engagement, land studies, and research to determine the best site for the new campus. When asked about a location for the new campus in South Simcoe, residents told us they wanted:
- Easy access to Highway 400 with multiple access points from main arterial roads
- Central to population centres in Innisfil, as well as Barrie
- Close to Rizzardo Health and Wellness Centre, Innisfil civic campus and future community health services such as physician offices
- A location that minimizes impact on communities and the environment, particularly Lake Simcoe
- Accessible by future public transit
- Ability to begin construction and servicing (water and sewer), quickly
- A flexible site that allows for expansion in the future
You spoke and RVH listened. The Innisfil Campus at Yonge Street and Innisfil Beach Road checks all those boxes.
Have any questions? Please reach out to comms@rvh.on.ca