Staff continue to lobby for more beds at Vernon Jubilee Hospital but so far, the message is not getting through to the decision makers in Victoria. Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says he's been lobbying the health minister to equip the two shelled-in floors on top of the new tower, to reduce overcrowding. Foster says lobbying for the funding is one of his top priorities, but the ministry is hearing the same thing from other areas. "Every MLA in the province is doing the same thing, because this is not just unique to Vernon (lack of beds), and we're trying t come up with some solutions." Foster says 46 assisted living beds to be built in the community will reduce some of the issues, once they're done. "So that's a start, but at the same time, we're still trying to come up with some ideas for the hospital, possibly even using some of the areas that will be vacated when the new tower opens, to utilize some of that for beds." Foster says putting beds on the two floors would cost 20 million dollars for equipment, and ten million a year for staffing. Some VJH doctors have started an online 'Purple Ribbon' campaign to get beds on the two empty floors.
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