NDP highlight health care today

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star - June 17, 2008

B.C.’s official opposition is taking up the cause of Vernon Jubilee Hospital. NDP leader Carole James and health critic Adrian Dix will meet with health care workers, residents and patients today, including a press conference outside VJH at 9:30 a.m. “We want to highlight the issues of importance in the Okanagan and the crisis in health care has hit the Okanagan,” said James. According to James, she is concerned about the number of code purple (capacity) alerts that have been called at VJH. “We want to continue to put pressure on the government,” she said. A recent petition collected 18,000 names, demanding that the provincial government provide more resources at VJH for acute care beds, operating rooms, an MRI machine and nurses. “We have heard nothing back from the health minister,” said Tony Stamboulieh, spokesman for the Vernon Taxpayers Association, which organized the petition campaign. “There’s not the slightest indication that he has anything to say so it’s commendable that Carole James is coming here to see what’s going on.” Since the petition was handed over to the government, another 600 names have been received. “People keep sending their petitions in,” said Stamboulieh.