Old Postings about the shelled in floors at the hospital - Deja Vu All over again

http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/petition-sends-strong-message.html
(excerpt below)
Morning Star Editorial June 8, 2008  The public has spoken

Hospital Petition Signed by 18,000

North Okanagan residents have made it known loud and clear that they are fed up with conditions at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. A total of almost 18,000 people from across the region took pen to paper and signed a petition demanding that the provincial government take the situation at VJH, including, it seems like, almost daily code purples, seriously. It is not good enough for the Interior Health Authority and the provincial government to say that the matter of acute care beds is being looked at — that discussions are underway to possibly fund shelled-in space in the new diagnostic and treatment tower that could be used for beds sometime in the future. There is a critical need for beds now, and that situation will only get worse as the region's population grows and more pressure is placed on VJH. With construction of the tower expected to begin later this year, it is time for Victoria to financially commit to additional beds and to provide operational funds for nurses and other support staff. Whether the beds are in the new tower or in vacant space within the existing hospital, is irrelevant. All that matters is that a severe shortage of acute care beds be addressed. Health Minister George Abbott likes to brag about the $81 million investment in the new tower, and while it will have a significant impact on health care, it, quite frankly, is not enough. Now is the time for Abbott, Okanagan Vernon MLA Tom Christensen and IHA to acknowledge the problem and to actually do something about it. If they don't, they will continue to endure the wrath of the public.
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http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/by-peter-mcintyrekevin-rothwellwe-dont.html
(except Below:)

"We don't believe the hospital is under funded": Abbott  

Abbott is optimistic discussions to include two shelled in floors on the new VJH tower for more acute care beds, will be succesful. "Based on the success we had in terms of the conclusion of discussions with the Central Okanagan Regional District for an additional floor on their ambulatory tower, there is every reason to believe that subject to the support from the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District, we can do exactly the same thing at Vernon." 

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There are many other postings re the Original Petition etc. and can be accessed by going to the IHA link at http://vernonblog.blogspot.com/search/label/IHA