B.C.’s health ministry has undergone a massive shakeup, with seven senior executive positions being eliminated and at least three top officials abruptly departing government in what the ministry is calling a “right-sizing” of health leadership.

The internal reshuffling was so large it prompted ministry officials to bring in grief counsellors to offices on Tuesday.

It comes as the health system continues to be rocked by crisis, including repeated closures of rural hospital emergency rooms, persistent staffing shortages across the province and massive ER wait times.

“The premier has directed all of us to look at programs and services, and so this is about aligning executive leadership with the needs of British Columbians,” Health Minister Josie Osborne said in an interview.

She denied that one of the largest staffing shake ups in the ministry’s recent history would disrupt efforts to tackle the health-care crisis or lead to knowledge gaps in ongoing priority work.

“I think this really is about alignment, and us recognizing that we all have a responsibility in looking at administrative structures and making the best decisions possible so that we're using resources........

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