Alexander Wing Layoffs

Starlee Speers, Astral Media Radio - Vernon

The Hospital Employees Union has confirmed that 38 of it's members have been layed off at the Alexander wing in Vernon. H-E-U Spokesman Mike Old says Interior Health plans to close the 49 bed residential care facility at the same time the 90 bed Creekside seniors home opens in June. Old says 38 of their members employed at the residential care facility received layoff notices two weeks ago. He says most of the employees will be able to find new positions within the health authority but some may end up displaced. Old says losing another facility like the Alexander wing puts even more pressure on the acute care hospital beds. An Interior Health spokesperson says the employees knew when they were hired for the Alexander Wing they'd eventually be laid off. Kathy Renkas says, the wing was re-opened approximately 2-3 years ago until the new facility is finished. She says the Vernon Jubilee Hospital expansion will be built on the old Alexander wing site.

------------

107.5 KISSFM Pete McIntyre Layoff notices for health care workers

Several dozen Vernon health care workers are facing an uncertain future with word that a residential care facility will be closing. The 49 bed Alexander wing next to Vernon Jubilee Hospital will be torn down by June to make room for the new diagnostic treatment tower. Donna Lommer, Interior Halth's program administrator for residential and palliative services for the Okanagan, says six month lay off notices have been issued to 44 staff which includes 38 HEU members and 6 who are BCNU and HSA members, but she's confident they will find other jobs. "It's been our experience in other communities where we've rebuilt other residential care facilites which meant closing down an old facility and opening a new one, it's been our experience that by the time the process is said and done, everyone lands into something."She says there's various options for bumping into other positions within the organization, or placements into other roles through attrition.The Hospital Employees Union is upset at the closure, saying its members have no guarantee of new jobs and the closure will put more pressure on the acute care beds at VJH. Many of the Alexander residents will be moving into the new Creekside seniors home in May.Creekside has 66 residential care beds and 24 assisted living beds.