Barrie’s hospital could cut staff to address $7.8M deficit

The entrance to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre. Wed., June 3, 2026. PHOTO: CTV NEWS BARRIE

In a press release sent out Wednesday, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre has announced it is facing a year-end deficit of $7.8 million for its 2025-26 budget.

The release states that “RVH is facing significant financial pressure due to the demand for care continuing to grow as the region expands and patient’s needs become more complex.”

“This increased activity, combined with rising labour and supply costs, is placing added pressure on the hospital’s financial position.”

In answer to this deficit, RVH says it’s implementing a long-range plan to support sustainability.

“In developing the plan, every initiative is being assessed to avoid adverse impacts on care and minimize impact on staff,” said Gail Hunt, president and CEO of RVH.

RVH’s press release says roughly 50 people out of the hospital’s staff of 4,500 are going to be impacted by these budget cuts within the next five months.

“RVH is now going through the comprehensive process of redeploying as many impacted team members as possible into vacant positions where their skills are needed most,” the release states.

“Over the next three to five years, RVH’s plan will focus on operational efficiency, innovation and resource alignment, ensuring staff are in the right roles to support patient care. This is essential to meet growing demand and achieve strategic priorities like bringing specialized care close to home,” said Hunt.

Realignment initiatives already underway include streamlining administrative and non-clinical costs, leadership restructuring, and reductions, an alignment of certain positions with available funding, and improving emergency department and discharge planning processes.