The costs and number of beds still have to be finalized, but the plan to reduce overcrowding at Vernon's hospital is moving forward. Vernon Monashee MLA Eric Foster says a proposal compiled by VJH staff and administration has been sent to Interior Health, and then will be off to the Health Ministry.Foster tells Kiss FM, "The work here by a local group is done." As soon as it gets to the ministry, I'll be parked on the front door of the minister and we'll move it through as quickly as we can."Up to 60 beds could be added to the top two shelled-in floors of the Polson Tower, but Foster says there's no firm cost estimate."I'm always reluctant to throw numbers around before you go to tender on things because that could affect the bidding, so we certainly try to stay away from that."Foster says it's too soon to estimate if the new beds could be in use by next year, or 2014. "I don't know how long it takes to build something like that. What I want to do is get the construction started, and there will be timeline coming from that." Former Health Minister Mike de Jong announced funding for the upgrade was approved last May. Doctors and other staff have been pushing for extra acute care beds to address chronic overcrowding at the hospital.
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