RVH gets $20 million boost from Simcoe County

Royal Victoria Hospital's Phase 1 expansion is one step closer to reality following today's approval of a $20 million commitment to the project by the County of Simcoe.

The County of Simcoe has committed $30 million to the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance and of this amount, $20 million has now been earmarked for the Royal Victoria Hospital's new cancer care centre and hospital expansion.

"This tremendous commitment by Simcoe County is the final piece of the funding puzzle for RVH," says RVH President and CEO Janice Skot. "It will allow us to move the project forward to construction with the unequivocal support of all our funding partners. We're extremely pleased, and would like to thank all councillors for their thoughtful deliberation and their recognition of the important role RVH plays in the lives of their residents. The expansion will bring care closer to home for patients across our region."

County councillors approved a recommendation made by the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance, comprised of all the hospitals in the area which care for county residents, to commit $20 million over the next 10 years to the project, which includes the Simcoe-Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre.

"The County of Simcoe makes significant investments in health care for our residents and this is an exciting time for Royal Victoria Hospital.

The County's commitment of $30 million to the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance with $20 million specifically for Royal Victoria Hospital means RVH has one of those last important pieces in their expansion project," said Tony Guergis, Simcoe County Warden.

"This approval is the end result of a very long process and a lot of good work by the County's Health Care Strategy Committee and the Simcoe County Hospital Alliance. This $20 million commitment to RVH by the County of Simcoe sends a strong message about our commitment to quality health care for our residents."

With the County's commitment, early site work can begin later this summer including the redirection of services such as water, sewer, storm drainage and electrical along with road widening, parking enhancements and new entrances to the hospital. That Early Works project will set the stage for building construction to begin next fall. The expansion is slated for completion in 2011.

Once complete, the project will almost double the size of the existing hospital.

In addition to the Simcoe-Muskoka Regional Cancer Centre, it includes an expansion of RVH's laboratory, diagnostic imaging and emergency departments; a dedicated coronary care unit; two new operating rooms and 101 additional inpatient beds.