B-C's Health Minister says upgrades to the hospitals in Vernon, Kelowna and Salmon Arm are the top three
priorities for the Health Ministry. George Abbott made that comment while in Vernon today to talk with the regional hospital board at the North Okanagan Regional District office. "Vernon Jubilee Hospital, Kelowna General Hospital, Shuswap Lake General Hospital are all top priorities for the Province of BC. They have been identified as top priorities for a year. We are working through planning and delivery design processes that hopefully will conclude in the relatively near future." Abbott says all three facilities are overdue for capital improvements."These are community and regional facilities that have seen great sputs in growth, reflecting the growth in the communities and reflecting the aging demographics, so all three are due and perhaps overdue for capital reinvestment." Abbott says a $20 Million upgrade to Shuswap Lake hospital has been approved. Funding is being considered for an $80 million renovation to Vernon Jubilee, and a $120 Million upgrade to Kelowna General. Fourty percent of the costs would have to be covered by local taxpayers through the regional hospital board.If the projects proceed, homeowners with assesed value of $250,000 would see their taxes rise about $50 a year, for 30 years, to cover the regional hospital portion. Vernon mayor Wayne Lippert tells KISS FM, the Minister's message was positive. "Its great to hear we are at the top of the list with Vernon, Salmon Arm and Kelowna. Salmon Arm is going out for its RFP's (request for proposals) so that means Vernon and Kelowna could go ahead as one (tender) by the sounds of it, and that's good. It's not going to happen this year, but it sounds like probably next year." Vernon councillor Patrick Nicol says the government is talking about Vernon and Kelowna's projects being put out to tender together to save money through economies of scale. (Pete McIntyre)
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