A planned expansion of Vernon Jubilee Hospital has progressed to the design stage, but it increasingly appears like
the process is flawed. It’s extremely disconcerting to hear that the proposed diagnostic and treatment tower does not include the maternal/child department. If the tower proceeds, expectant mothers will still be in 3North in the very oldest part of VJH. That means if an emergency caesarean section is required, the patient will have to be transported through the entire length of the hospital to reach the operating room in the new tower. Not only would there be a complete lack of privacy, but every minute counts during an emergency. But none of this seems to matter to the Ministry of Health. The Interior Health Authority has explained the seriousness of the situation but Victoria doesn’t seem to get it. Instead of looking at compromised patient care, the ministry is hung up on dollars and saying the $54 million cap for the tower doesn’t allow for the maternity/child department. IHA is considering options for maternity/child but they could include utilizing the existing hospital and the department still being separated from surgical services. Certainly there are other concerns about the tower project, including its ability to meet long-term growth in the North Okanagan, as well as not addressing a severe shortage of beds at VJH. However, it’s the situation with the maternal/child department that is most troubling. The bottom line is coming at the expense of mothers and children and that is unacceptable. It is time for the Ministry of Health to do what is right.
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