Overcrowding Issue Looms As Health Minister Tours Vernon's Patient Care Tower - 156 patients for 148 beds says tweet on VJH Code Purple Twitter account

Kate Bouey 4/18/2011 105.7 SUNFM:

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There could be a list of complaints for Health Minister Mike de Jong who's to tour Vernon's sparkling, new patient care tower on Tuesday. The seven-storey structure is to open in September but medical staff have warned it will not help with the patient overcrowding issue at Vernon Jubilee Hospital because the province has offered no funding for new beds. Staff recently started a social media campaign urging the public to write to the health minister, MLA Eric Foster and local politicians demanding action. In fact, one tweet on a `VJHcodepurple' Twitter account stated Monday there were 156 patients at the 148-bed hospital. There have been a number of Code Purple emergencies at the hospital, signalling acute overcrowding. De Jong is expected to meet with some staff members.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/VJH-Purple-Ribbon-Campaign/152345338162749

http://twitter.com/#VJHcodepurple