You had to dig deep in Tuesday’s budget document for any reference to an expansion at Kelowna General Hospital, but there it was.Health Minister George Abbott made broad hints Saturday that Kelowna should expect a major announcement this week about the proposed ambulatory care tower, but it wasn’t mentioned in the government’s budget speech.Buried on page 49 in the actual document was a reference to “new major construction” in health regions over the next three years. Included in the plan are a medical school expansion at KGH and a “preliminary allocation” to help Interior Health finance “key hospital projects” in Kelowna and Vernon.In an interview after the speech, Abbott all but confirmed
that means the new tower is a go. He said a speech by Premier Gordon Campbell in Kelowna on Thursday will provide more information.“As we move closer to shovels in the ground, we’ll get more details. The reference to Kelowna and Vernon in today’s budget document is great news for Vernon, Kelowna and the larger area of IH.”Vernon is slated to have a new diagnostic and treatment tower built next to Vernon Jubilee Hospital. If approved, it will house new operating rooms, intensive care, day surgery and emergency services.The Kelowna tower is designed to feature six new operating rooms, space for medical students attending UBC Okanagan, more diagnostic procedures, such as cardiac-stress testing, and a renal-dialysis program. It would allow the overcrowded emergency department to expand. Sources say it will open by 2010. Tickets for Campbell’s speech to the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce on Thursday are sold out.
that means the new tower is a go. He said a speech by Premier Gordon Campbell in Kelowna on Thursday will provide more information.“As we move closer to shovels in the ground, we’ll get more details. The reference to Kelowna and Vernon in today’s budget document is great news for Vernon, Kelowna and the larger area of IH.”Vernon is slated to have a new diagnostic and treatment tower built next to Vernon Jubilee Hospital. If approved, it will house new operating rooms, intensive care, day surgery and emergency services.The Kelowna tower is designed to feature six new operating rooms, space for medical students attending UBC Okanagan, more diagnostic procedures, such as cardiac-stress testing, and a renal-dialysis program. It would allow the overcrowded emergency department to expand. Sources say it will open by 2010. Tickets for Campbell’s speech to the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce on Thursday are sold out. 
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