Tower Cash Coming? - Hints during official grand opening

Kate Bouey 105.7 SUNFM 10/14/2011

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A hint Thursday that the BC government is going to provide more patient care beds at the overcrowded Vernon Jubilee Hospital.  "I'll be back.''  That was the comment from  Health Minister Mike de Jong who joined North Okanagan mayors, MLAs, MPs and other dignitaries at the official opening of the 180-million dollar Polson Tower. Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster says the new Polson Tower has added 16,815 square metres (181,000 square feet) of space to the VJH site. More space has allowed for theexpansion of operating rooms and the emergency department.
Other highlights of the new tower include:
* The creation of new intensive care and coronary units.
* New maternity/pediatrics ward with direct links to operating rooms.
* New and more efficient central sterilization services.
* Expanded ambulatory care and outpatient clinics.
* New ambulance space.
* Full integration with the existing hospital.
The expanded and modernized facilities at Vernon Jubilee Hospital provide a better environment for patients and staff. A series of programs and  services have also been modernized and consolidated to improve patient  care. Vacated space within VJH will leave room for other programs and services. When pressed about much-needed patient care beds, de Jong hinted that efforts were being made to find resources for one floor. Medical staff president, Doctor Ed Hardy, admitted he was disappointed but not surprised. He said even one floor would help with the hospital's chronic overcapacity issue, but opening both empty floors of the tower to patients would allow some of the older wards to be mothballed.

Bed Battle Continues

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Thursday, 06 October 2011 03:45

The pressure is still being put on the province for more bed funding at Vernon's hospital.  Medical staff president Dr Ed Hardy says the new tower is excellent, but it doesn't provide any new in-patient beds. He says "That has been our crunch for the last couple of years, we just don't have enough beds to put patients in and we have the new tower open but no new beds so we're still overcrowded." Hardy says operations are still being cancelled when the beds are full.  MLA Eric Foster says Health Minister Mike de Jong recently told local politicians he supports the need for more beds,  but its just a matter of finding the funding to complete the two shelled-in floors, an estimated 40 million dollars.

Pressures remain despite new tower

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: October 05, 2011 1:00 AM 
Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s new tower may be open, but concerns about overcrowding continue. Just two days after the Polson tower was unveiled Sept. 25, doctors say there were 155  patients although VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds.  “The hospital is still way over census, and operating rooms are still being cancelled,” said Dr. Ed Hardy, medical staff president and an oncologist. “This is following on the heels of a summer of OR slowdowns pending the new move, so all of the surgeons have a backlog already. I am expecting a tidal wave of new cancer consults when the surgeons can get their patients in.”  On Monday, the Interior Health Authority stated the census was 141 in the afternoon while it was 153 in the evening, according to doctors. While some politicians suggested the new tower  would alleviate pressure at VJH, Dr. Chris Cunningham insists that isn’t the case. “There are still patients housed in makeshift wards like MASH units, crowded into small rooms and alcoves,” said Cunningham, who has been part of a group lobbying for two floors in the tower to be completed for beds. “This is indecent to continue to care for patients in this way.” Cunningham says such conditions don’t allow for privacy and can lead to higher infection rates. “The new tower is an excellent facility providing modern facilities and services to assess patients in ER, operate on, or deliver a baby,” he said. “But the issue of overcrowding and patient care on wards continues to remain the same and will so until those top two floors are provided for acute care bed wards,” he said.

Interior Health Authority officials believe the tower has had a positive influence on congestion.  “Occupancy has not been as high as it has been,” said Allan Sinclair, vice-president of acute services. “The pressure is a lot less. Census has not been full yet.” Sinclair expects a more accurate indication of how the tower impacts overcrowding in two weeks when all operating rooms are running and there is a better sense of how the building functions. “There are all kinds of annoyances just like if you move into a new house. But we are pleased with  what we’ve got,” he said. Health Minister Michael de Jong has indicated that there may be no decision on additional acute care beds at VJH until the end of the year. “I’m not letting up on the lobbying,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster, adding he’s not surprised it’s taking time for the ministry to determine if the project will proceed. “There are huge financial challenges and that’s what we’re working out. My priority is the beds but I had people in my office who want group homes (for the developmentally challenged). There isn’t a bottomless pit of money.”
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BEYOND THE HEADLINES: Problem persists Richard Rolke
Back in July, Shuswap MLA George Abbott insisted he couldn’t join lobbying efforts for more acute care beds at Vernon Jubilee Hospital because the new tower should create greater efficiencies for patient flow.  “The sensible thing to do is complete the $180 million (tower) and see how they can manage capacity issues,” he said at the time. “There is no experience on what will happen with capacity.” Two days after the Sept. 25 opening of the tower, doctors say the patient census was 155 in a facility funded for 148 acute care beds. On Monday, administration stated the census was 141 in the afternoon while it was 153 in the evening, according to doctors. “Patients and wheelchairs are spilling out of rooms into narrow, crowded hallways in the old hospital,” said Dr. Michael Concannon, an emergency room doctor, this week.  “So patients get their initial treatment in a state-of-the-art emergency department and operating rooms, then they’re wheeled off into a dilapidated old building and warehoused for the remainder of their hospital stay, unless of course they’re ‘lucky’ enough to be critically ill and qualify for an ICU bed in the new building.” It’s anticipated the situation will get worse after summer-related operating room slowdowns and preparations for the move. “All of the surgeons have a backlog already,” said Dr. Ed Hardy, an oncologist and president of medical staff.  “I am expecting a tidal wave of new cancer consults when the surgeons can get their patients in.” Residents and medical professionals have been demanding action to ease chronic overcrowding. The solution they put forward is completing the two top shelled-in floors in the tower, as well as providing the necessary nursing staff.

It’s a cause that has been enthusiastically embraced by Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster, who has lobbied Premier Christy Clark and Health Minister Michael de Jong.  Unfortunately, Foster appears to be a lone voice in the wilderness within the provincial government.  Abbott refuses to say whether the floors should be completed, Clark hasn’t stopped in Vernon and de Jong said last week that a decision on beds may not come until later this year. The delay comes despite de Jong touring VJH in the spring and saying that the situation was being reviewed. Yes money is tight these days and the cost for constructing the floors ($20 million) and operating ($20 million annually) is staggering.  But the file has been in the ministry’s hands since April. How long does it take to say yes or no?  The longer the issue festers, the more at risk  Foster and Abbott are of not being re-elected in 2013. If any issue could galvanize local voters against the Liberals it could be this one.  But more importantly, a Christmas announcement about funds means any move towards construction will just take longer. There will be no immediate relief for patients shoved into halls. Physicians are reluctant to slam the government and trigger a potential backlash but frustration is growing. “Given the continued severity of the dire overcrowding problem at VJH, we are hopeful that a solution will be announced sooner, rather than later by our provincial government,” said Concannon.

Mayor contemplates policing alternative

Roger Knox - Vernon Morning Star  Published: September 30, 2011 1:00 AM
 Vernon’s mayor believes the province should look at alternative police services.  Wayne Lippert was reacting to news that Ottawa is threatening to start pulling the RCMP out of B.C. in 2014 if the province and cities do not sign a new 20-year policing contract by the end of November. “The federal government is negotiating on behalf of the RCMP as far as funding a police contract and they’ve given the ultimatum of take the deal or they’re walking away,” said Lippert from Vancouver Thursday, where he is attending the annual Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM) convention. “I believe we’ll have to walk away. It’s something we’ll have to look at, and the prudent thing for our citizens is to look at alternatives, whether it’s a provincial police force or all of the municipalities hiring their own police.” Lippert said he would have that discussion with city council. Looking at alternatives is not necessarily the action the province and its municipalities want to take, said the mayor, because the service from the RCMP has been good. But at the same time, added Lippert, B.C. can’t just give the Mounties a blank cheque. “Essentially, that’s what this contract is that they’re presenting, a blank cheque contract,” said Lippert. “They’ll supply policing and we’ll pay, but there’s no provisions for accountability in any place.” The City of Vernon, in 2011, has budgeted $7.1 million to pay for RCMP officers, and $9.6 million in total police expenses, which includes prison guards and support staff. B.C. Solicitor General Shirley Bond said the province is “very concerned about the future of this negotiation,” and added that pursuing a provincial police force would be a “very expensive, very challenging scenario to contemplate.” 

Also at UBCM, Lippert met with provincial health minister Mike de Jong to discuss the potential for more beds at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, and opening the shelled-in floors of the new Polson Tower. Lippert and Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster presented de Jong with a petition, organized by VJH doctors and the community, that contained more than 6,000 signatures, and asked if the minister had a funding announcement coming up. “As much as he’d like to give an announcement for the official opening of the tower (tentatively set for Oct. 13), he said he did not expect there would be such an announcement at that time,” said Lippert. “He said they are looking at the health budget overall and that he expected he may have an answer sometime before the end of the year. “Even though it sounds like no answer, Mr. de Jong is aware of the situation, he seemed positive and he appreciated the work done by the community. He said Foster is staying on top of him on this matter.”

Minister Delays Bed Funding; UBCO Bus

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Wednesday, 28 September 2011 15:20

Maybe by the end of the year.  That's when the Health Ministry may provide more bed funding to reduce overcrowding at Vernon's hospital.  Mayor Wayne Lippert says that was the outcome of a meeting with Health Minister Mike de Jong at the Union of BC Municipalities conference in Vancouver.  "He doubted very much that we would have an answer for the shelled-in floors for the October opening, but hopefully in overlooking the provincial budget, maybe we'll have an answer by the end of the year." "We'd always like to get an answer right away, but in working with Minister de Jong, he's been positive." There had been hopes the funding may be announced for the tower's official opening October 13th.  Hospital staff and residents have been pushing for up to 60 more beds in the top two shelled-in floors of the Polson Tower. Lippert says Vernon MLA Eric Foster presented de Jong today with a 6,000 name petition in support of the funding. Meantime, Lippert says city and transit staff will be looking at solutions to the overcrowded Vernon to UBCO buses, possibly using a new type of bus.

Foster pushes minister for beds

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: September 25, 2011 1:00 AM 
There’s still no guarantee that cramped quarters at Vernon Jubilee Hospital will be addressed.  Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, met with Health Minister Michael de Jong Thursday to discuss the need to complete two floors in the new tower as a way of opening more acute care beds.  “No news is good news. He didn’t say no to me,” said Foster.  “The minister knows there’s a bed shortage. It’s just an issue of how to come up with the funds.”  VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but on average, there are 164 patients daily. That has led to patients in the halls and surgeries being cancelled.  The price tag to develop both floors could be $20 million, and then $20 million would be needed annually to operate the floors (with 30 beds each).  There’s been speculation that an announcement regarding beds may occur during the official opening of the tower Oct. 13. However, Foster isn’t sure if that will occur. “He’s reluctant to give an answer,” said Foster of de Jong.  “He doesn’t want to make a promise he can’t keep. It’s all about coming up with the resources.”  Foster and de Jong also discussed the pressure the community is exerting to have the floors completed and beds opened.  “If it wasn’t for community involvement, this wouldn’t be an issue. The community is keeping this on the front page,” said Foster. Foster was recently presented with a 6,033-name petition about beds and he plans on giving it to de Jong during this week’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver because local politicians will be on hand.  Foster is confident that an announcement on funding is pending. “I’m not letting up on this and neither is the community,” he said. “There’s no question we’ll open beds. It’s just a matter of when. I want it sooner.”

Foster meets with minister over hospital

Published:Morning Star: September 21, 2011 1:00 AM

Lobbying continues to ease overcrowding at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.  Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, will meet with Health Minister Michael de Jong Thursday to discuss possibly completing the two shelled-in floors in the new patient care tower for more acute care beds.  “We’re working on it,” said Foster, who will present de Jong with a 6,033-name petition demanding action. VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but on average, there are 164 patients daily. That has led to patients in the halls and surgeries being cancelled. “It’s a big issue. It’s an issue that affects everyone,” said Foster. “It’s all about the numbers. We need to find the money.”  It’s estimated that it could cost about $10 million to complete each of the shelled-in floors and then $10 million each annually to operate the floors (with 30 beds each). Organizers of the Purple Ribbon campaign say local residents and Foster have been supportive in trying to get two floors completed.  “I have seen Eric Foster lobby this government and ministers,” said Dr. Chris Cunningham, a member of medical staff.  “We thank Eric Foster for standing up and being a positive force, and we thank the people of this North Okanagan region for being a strong voice and taking steps towards helping improve their health care.  We still need to keep this pressure on.” Cunningham is urging residents to continue to place pressure on the government for more beds. “It is their vast voice calling to this government for help, to do the right thing, and complete the top two floors,” he said.  There’s speculation that an announcement on funding could occur during the ceremonial opening of the new tower, tentatively set for Oct. 13. However, Foster says he’s not been provided with any information about a potential announcement. “Nobody has come out and said no we’re not going to do it,” he said. Patients will be moved from the existing hospital facility to the new Polson tower Sunday.

Prison, Hospital Beds Update

Written by Peter McIntyre  107.5 KISSFM Monday, 19 September 2011 17:33

There's only so much money to go around. That's the message Vernon Liberal MLA Eric Foster is getting from provincial officials as he awaits word on bed funding for the hospital, and if Lumby will get the nod for a 250 million dollar new prison. The MLA says, "We're trying to come up with more beds for hospitals, money for schools and highways. Someone mentioned recently it was a matter of priorities, it's all about priorities. You've got a finite amount of money and you've got to spread it out." Foster will be presenting a six-thousand name petition supporting more bed funding, to the Health Minister this week, and is still hopeful Victoria will come through with money to reduce hospital overcrowding.  "Nobody has come out and said no to me, that we're not going to do it, so I guess that's a slightly positive thing, but at this point I haven't had anything more than that."  Foster met with Premier Christy Clark on the issue last week. The new 180 million dollar Polson Tower begins moving and treating patients this Sunday, and Foster says an official opening will be held October 13th.

Petition urges action at hospital Clark must get involved

By Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star  Published: September 14, 2011 1:00 AM

With 6,033 people calling for more beds, it’s hoped an announcement will be made when Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s Polson Tower officially opens Sept. 25.  The 6,033-signature petition, wrapped in lilac paper and topped with a purple ribbon, was handed over to Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, Monday.  “I will hand deliver this to the Minister of Health (Michael de Jong),” said Foster, as he accepted the hundreds of pages signed by residents of Vernon, Coldstream, Lumby, Armstrong, Falkland, Salmon Arm and as far as Revelstoke.  He also confirmed that the issue is already on Premier Christy Clark’s radar.  “I met with the premier myself Friday for 45 minutes and 40 minutes of that discussion was about the hospital,” said Foster, holding the petition which was started several months ago with a goal of 5,000 signatures.  With all of the efforts Foster has made to bring the issue to the forefront, Dr. Chris Cunningham says the petition is in good hands.  “We really appreciate and we are cognizant of what Eric Foster has done lobbying the government,” said Cunningham.  Meanwhile Peter Hill, who has organized the last two rallies at the hospital, is hopeful that everyone’s efforts will pay off when the new tower officially opens Sept. 25.  “We’re well expecting the government to make an announcement that day and we’re not expecting a negative response, we’re expecting a positive one,” said Hill.  Foster could not say when or if an announcement might come forth. “I appreciate the effort put into this, I’ve put a lot of time into it myself and we continue to work at it and hopefully we will have an answer sooner rather than later,” said Foster.
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 Clark must get involved By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: September 14, 2011 1:00 AM 
Christy Clark didn’t waste any time in insisting that her style of government would be different. Selected as Liberal leader in February, the then-premier designate called for a new relationship with British Columbians.  “I want you to be my partners in change in Victoria, I want you to be my partners in bringing open government, you can count on me to listen to, you can count  on me to  engage you and you can count on me to ensure our government really does include you,” she said.  “I have specific ideas on how to do these things, but I need to hear from you. More than anything our government will be tuned into families  like never before.”  That was then and this is now, and one has to wonder if Clark will listen to the 6,033 people who signed a petition demanding the two top floors at Vernon Jubilee Hospital be completed as a way of alleviating chronic overcrowding.  Beyond the petition, there has been rallies in Vernon and Falkland, and countless letters to the editor have focused on the ongoing situation. Purple ribbons are pinned to shirts, jackets and hats. Clark has chanted the mantra of “Families First,” but that contrasts with the experiences of Darrel Stinson, a former MP who has met many patients since he was diagnosed with cancer in 2005.  “Where I was trying to walk, I bumped into their beds (in the halls),” he told the Labour Day rally at VJH.  “The embarrassment they felt as they covered up. One man said to me, ‘Try and use a bed pan when someone bumps into your bed.’”  A thin curtain separates your bed from those passing by in the hall, meaning there is no privacy while visiting with family or when the doctor is updating you on your health.

Beyond the hospital, many residents struggle in pain and wait for their name to rise to the top of the surgical waitlist. Over-crowding often means there isn’t a bed for them once surgery is completed so the procedure is cancelled.  Now Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster insists VJH is a priority for Clark. “I met with the premier myself Friday for 45 minutes and 40 minutes of that discussion were about the hospital,” said Foster as he accepted the petition from organizers Monday.  That’s good news and it particularly indicates that Foster understands the seriousness of the situation and is lobbying on behalf of his constituents.  But there is only so much Foster, as a backbench MLA, can do. The final decision will be made by those who control the cash, including the health minister, the finance minister and the premier (also at the table is Education Minister George Abbott but the Shuswap MLA has yet to acknowledge more acute care beds are needed). Meeting with Foster for 45 minutes will mean absolutely nothing if Clark doesn’t take action and conditions at the hospital continue to worsen.  As was mentioned earlier, Clark told British Columbians in February that, “you can count on me to listen, you can count on me to engage you and  you can count on me to ensure our government really does include you.”  If that is the case, it is time for Clark to visit Vernon and meet one-on-one with hospital administrators, doctors and nurses. But most importantly, she needs to talk directly to those people who have surgery cancelled or have been forced into a hall because there aren’t enough beds. That would go a long ways towards putting families first.

$563 million taxpayer-funded renovation - Opening of 2 shelled in floors at VJH next ???

The 1983-opened stadium, which is undergoing a $563 million taxpayer-funded renovation, is scheduled to reopen Sept. 30 for a B.C. Lions game against the Edmonton Eskimos.

Hill Optimistic About More Beds -- Could the announcement come during the Official Grand Opening?

Betty Selin 105.7 SUNFM9/7/2011

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The organizer of the Labour Day rally to try and pressure the government to spend the 20-million dollars required to put beds in the two shelled in floors in the new tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is optimistic it will happen. Peter Hill says it could come during the opening of the new 180-million dollar tower.  Hill says there have been some signs.  He says about 6-thousand people have now signed the petition asking for more acute care beds in the two shelled in floors of the new Polson Tower.
Hill expects the announcement during the Official Grand Opening September 25th.
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Email addresses to continue to put pressure on Government to make a decision:

• E-mail: eric.foster.mla@leg.bc.ca     
• E-mail: mike.dejong.mla@leg.bc.ca  (Minister of Health)
• E-mail: premier@gov.bc.ca  
•  E-mail: george.abbott.mla@leg.bc.ca 

Citizens rally for action

By Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star  Published: September 07, 2011 1:00 AM

North Okanagan residents are being urged to lend their voice to calls for improved health care. About 150 people rallied for more acute care beds at Vernon Jubilee Hospital Monday, but participants admit the lobbying effort must expand.  “The word has to get out to the rest of the population on the need for this facility,” said Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick of completing two shelled-in floors in the new patient care tower for acute care beds.  “The provincial government has said they want to hear from the people. We need to pull together as a region to get this done.”  VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but on average, there are 164 patients daily. That has led to patients in the hallways and surgeries being cancelled.  “We need to have those two floors finished because the need is not slowing down,” said Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert, who also spoke at the rally. “With the support of the community, we’ll be able to have those two floors completed.”  Among those speaking was former Okanagan-Shuswap MP Darrel Stinson, who has been in hospital several times since first being diagnosed with cancer in 2005.  “Where I was trying to walk, I bumped into their beds (in the halls),” he said.  “The embarrassment they felt as they covered up. One man said to me, ‘Try and use a bed pan when someone bumps into your bed.’” They paid their taxes and they had no idea that when they went to the hospital, they’d wind up in the hallway.” Stinson is concerned conditions will force doctors and nurses to leave VJH and costs for completing the floors will increase if not addressed now.  “Don’t be afraid to write letters to the editor or to come out to rallies,” he told the crowd.  “Don’t buy into compromises. One floor is not adequate, we need them both.”  The Interior Health Authority states it could cost $10 million to develop each of the shelled-in floors, and then $10 million each annually to operate the floors.  “It’s not the money, we have the money. It’s a priority issue,” said Jim Hart, master of ceremonies and former Okanagan-Coquihalla MP.  Hart equated the new patient care tower to constructing a home without bedrooms.  “We have beautiful bricks and mortar and high technology but two floors remain sealed off and empty,” he said.  A petition demanding that the government complete the two floors has collected 6,000 names.  “This is an issue important to the dignity of health care,” said Dr. Chris Cunningham, a member of the VJH medical staff.  The rally was organized by resident Peter Hill and he is hoping the government will announce funds for the two floors when the tower opens Sept. 25.  “We will be in contact with the government. A lot goes on behind the scenes,” said Hill of lobbying efforts.
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Don Quixote Note: The advertising costs for this Rally totaled $1680 and the donation box/collection plate  at the rally raised $656.96. Mr. Peter Hill and his small group have organized these rallies and up-fronted the costs. They are still about $1000 short. If you wish to make a small donation to this cause (any extra money raised will be donated to the Hospital Foundation) it will be appreciated.

These rallies are a part of keeping pressure on the Government to open those 2 shelled in floors and as Mayor Garlick and former M.P. Stinson said "Keep those e-mails going to the local MLA, Health Minister and Premier, keep writing those letters to the Editor, keep attending rallies of this kind and demand immediate decisions on this important Community and area need.

Empty floors on new building prompt protest.

Evening News CHBC - Hospital Rally 2:22

Protesters rally at VJH Kelowna

 CHBC News : Monday, September 05, 2011 8:02 PM

Photo Credit: CHBC News , Jim Lenton

More than a 150 people rallied in Vernon on Monday to protest the loss of 60 potential extra acute care beds at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. With a new hospital tower set to open in less than a month, the two top floors still remain unfurnished and empty. Protesters believe the extra beds are desperately needed at the hospital. “He’s never needed the hospital but when he needed it, it wasn’t there for him,” said Margaret Chastkavich about her husband who suffered a seizure but had to wait for hours before being seen by a doctor. “The doctor that came out said I can’t properly assess your husband in a wheelchair and I don’t have a bed to put him in,” she said. The code purple campaign is pushing to bring back privacy and dignity to patients. One by one, people came forward and began donating whatever change they had in their pockets, from fistfuls of coins to $20 bills. To date, Vernon residents have raised $7 million for the hospital. In a written statement, B.C. health minister Mike de Jong said “The situation at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is being reviewed.”. Read it on Global News: CHBC Okanagan | Protesters rally at VJH

Rally for hospital beds

by Contributed - CASTANET Sep 5, 2011 / 4:05 pm

Photo: Contributed - Stephanie Dryhurst

Former Okanagan-Shuswap Member of Parliament Darrel Stinson.

There might be a new tower open at Vernon Jubilee Hospital, but residents say it is still not enough and the top two floors are not complete.  The parking lot in front of the new VJH Polson Tower was crowded with former patients and local provincial representatives, Monday afternoon, in a grass roots attempt to send a message to the B.C. government that there is desperate need for acute care beds. Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick says people need to support the project and get involved.  “Send letters and e-mails to the Premier to have the top two floors completed. Our population has outpaced the number of beds available, and with the aging population we will be playing a catch up game to keep up with the needs of long term beds.”  Scheduled to open September 25 the new tower will not include an increase in acute hospital beds.  VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but usually there are up to 165 patients daily.  Former Okanagan-Shuswap Member of Parliament Darrel Stinson knows about the situation in Vernon first hand and spoke about his experiences at the rally.  Stinson, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2005, says he has never been to a hospital like Vernon, a code purple.  The code means the hospital is suddenly overwhelmed by the number of patients awaiting emergency medical attention.

Photo: Contributed - Stephanie Dryhurst

Kelly Collins a former patient

“There were people in hallways, I was bumping into their beds.  Something is drastically wrong, there is no privacy and it has to change.” The cost to complete the towers could be about $10 million for each of the floors and then another $10 million annually to operate each of the floors. The Master of Ceremonies for the day’s rally was Jim Hart who equated the top two floors of the tower to the TV show Extreme Makeover.  “Except when the crowd yells ‘move that bus’, the family goes into their newly renovated home only to find that there aren’t any beds.”  Many people who had been patients of VJH, such as Kelly Collins, gathered around with signs to show their disgust with the lack of acute care beds at the hospital. “I have spent time in the hospital on many occasions in hallways and closets.  Where has all the money gotten to?”  Nurses, doctors and hospital staff also attended the rally.

Residents Rally For Hospital Funding

Written by Peter McIntyre 107.5 KISSFMMonday, 05 September 2011 13:25

Organizers were pleased with the message, even though it was a light turnout for a rally calling on the province to provide more bed funding at Vernon's hospital.  About 150 people were at the one hour event by the new Polson Tower on Labour Day.  Former Okanagan Shuswap Member of Parliament Darrel Stinson was among the speakers. Stinson has had numerous procedures done at VJH since being diagnosed with cancer in 2005.  He says the new 180 million dollar Polson Tower will address a lot of needs, but not all of them.  "It's not going to address the overcrowding. That has to be addressed and addressed now because we're not getting any younger."  Stinson says he's been treated in a number of hospitals, but never seen one like Vernon.  "Where it's code purple. Where I met people laying in a hallway and when I was trying to walk, I bumped into their beds." Dr Chris Cunningham told the crowd, staff are pleased with the new 180 million dollar facility, but need more beds to address overcrowding.  "The beds you lay down on and receive your care from the nurses and staff...acute care beds...this will not address it without those top two floors." It was the second rally organized by local realtor Peter Hill who was a bit disappointed with the turnout.  "The advertising was all there. The media did their job. Maybe because it was Labour Day, I spoke to a dozen of my friends and none of them could come because of prior commitments, or they were out on the lake." The first rally on Canada Day attracted about 200.

Hill is still hoping the province comes through with funding to open the two shelled in floors before the tower officially opens to the public Sunday September 25th.  He says the message to the province is, "Please listen, please respond and please give us a date when we can see a commencement of these two floors to be completed and made operational."  The event drew several civic politicians, including mayors Wayne Lippert and Jim Garlick, but local Liberal MLA's Eric Foster and George Abbott--who were invited---were not on hand. Hill says Foster said he had a prior commitment, while Abbott did not respond to the invitation.  Hill says the recent scrapping of the HST shouldn't impact funding for the new beds.  "We've looked into that, and the answer we've received is that it has absolutely nothing to do with the funding for these two floors, absolutely nothing." It would cost about ten million dollars to equip each floor with 30 new beds per floor, plus another ten million a year to staff them. The Health Ministry is still said to be looking into the issue.
Top Photo: Residents rally near new Polson Tower on Monday
Second: Former MP Darrel Stinson addresses the crowd at Monday's rally (P. McIntyre photos)

Labour Day rally calls for more beds

Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star  Published: September 04, 2011 1:00 AM
 The call for more beds at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is ready to be heard loud and clear.  Everyone, from Revelstoke to the Shuswap and throughout the North Okanagan, is invited to attend a rally in the parking lot in front of the new VJH Polson Tower at noon Monday.  “Clogging, overcrowding, hallway medicine, delays, surgery cancellations will continue before and after the official opening of the tower due to the fact that no acute care beds are being provided in the new tower,” said Peter Hill, a local realtor organizing the rally.  Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster, who is hoping to attend the rally, has lobbied the health minister for completion of the two shelled-in floors in the new tower. “We look at the number of people over limit we are and we’re trying to do what we can,” said Foster, who will be presented with the Purple Ribbon Campaign petition (which has more than 1,400 signatures) at the rally, if he can attend.  The new tower is scheduled to open Sept. 25, but does not include an increase in hospital beds. Meanwhile VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but on average there are 165 patients daily.  “We look forward to our government prioritizing this issue and taking the necessary steps to rectify an extremely critical situation at VJH,” said Hill. It’s estimated that it could cost about $10 million to complete each of the shelled-in floors and then $10 million each annually to operate the floors (with 30 beds each).

Coldstream Mayor Jim Garlick, former Okanagan Shuswap MP Darrel Stinson and a representative speaking on behalf of the doctors, nurses and staff at VJH are scheduled to attend the rally. Vernon Mayor Wayne Lippert has also been invited to attend. Jim Hart, former MP for Okanagan-Similkameen-Merritt, will be the master of ceremonies.  Meanwhile Shuswap MLA George Abbott, who is also B.C.’s Minister of Education and is dealing with teacher disputes following strike notice, will not be attending. Health Minister Michael de Jong recently told The Morning Star that the situation at VJH is being reviewed.

Cost of Operating 2 shelled in floors at VJH. (A cheatsheet)

• It will cost $20 million to complete the two floors, which can hold 60 beds, and another $20 million annually to keep it running.
• VJH is funded for 148 acute care beds but daily occupancy generally runs above 100 per cent. “We are not sitting still,” said Pat Furey, VJH administrator. Twenty to 30 people a day in acute care beds  require residential care but they remain in the hospital until space can be found for them. Furey isn’t sure if opening the two floors will improve the situation. “Acute beds cost $1,000 a day (to operate) while residential are $125. If you are keeping residential patients in acute, that’s an expensive place to keep them,” she said. It could cost about $10 million to develop each of the shelled-in floors for use by patients, and then $10 million each annually to operate the floors.  IHA is currently soliciting bids to develop 46 new residential care beds in the North Okanagan and Furey says the goal is to discharge patients to the appropriate residential care or home care setting. “If we had 20 to 30 beds freed up, we’d have no  problem handling acute care flow.”
  
  • Lumby is getting 46 new publicly funded residential care beds. InSite Housing has signed a contract with Interior Health and provides independent, supportive and assisted living for seniors in the area. Work on the new facility is expected to begin in November and will likely be complete within one year. MLA Eric Foster says the new facility will be built in Lumby adjacent to the Health Centre. 
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  Don Quixote Note: I have put up this post to illustrate the costs that have been in the media for the shelled in flooring. 
• The costs for the operation of an acute bed are in the $800 to $1000 per day that seems to be in some studies that you can find on the internet. The $10,000,000 cost for the operations of these 30 beds per floor would come in at $913.24/bed/day.  (The $1000 /day/bed is a conservative budgeting figure)
• The capital cost of $10,000,000 per floor would be for the equipment required and would work out to $333,333 per bed and would be a 1 time cost. Whether the local hospital taxpayers would have to pick up 40% of this cost is unknown. 
• The local hospital taxpayer has picked up 40% of the costs of the Tower and 100% of the cost of having the shelled in floors available ( $10,500,000) from 2010 financial statements
• The costs of the 46 Lumby beds (residential care) and whether the Hospital taxpayer pays for 40% of the estimated costs is unclear to me.
• The Pleasant Valley Manor in Armstrong is part of the debt recoverable from taxation in the 2010 financial statements and debt stands at $3,822,900. Forty-two (42)  residential care beds were added to Pleasant Valley Manor in Armstrong. The expansion project cost approximately $10.2 million. The North Okanagan/Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District (NOCSRHD) funded 40 percent of the project, with the Government of British Columbia, through Interior Health, funding the remaining 60 percent. [PDF] MEDIA RELEASE 

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It appears that the Heartland pays for the capital costs of some residential beds if not all (Lumby ?). Does the lower mainland pay for their additional Residential care beds as the Capital Costs for the Hospitals is picked up 100% by the Provincial Government???

• The Editorial by Scott Neufeld of the local Vernon Courier in 2006 says it best:
  'What’s interesting to note is that municipalities within the Greater Vancouver Regional District do not charge their citizens a property tax.Instead the province has assumed their hospital debt. In plain terms, the provincial government collects money from all B.C. taxpayers to pay for Lower Mainland hospitals. But when it comes paying for hospitals in the rest of B.C., the message seems to be that if you want something – you’re going to have to pay for a lot of it yourself.
  
  
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    Would appreciate any comments especially re the figures and assumptions that I have used.

Deadline For Hospital Petition - Your last chance to sign in offices and on-line

Kate Bouey 9/1/2011 105.7 SUNFM

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A petition aimed at pressuring Victoria into funding new patient care beds at VJH stops taking signatures Thursday. Although just over 14-hundred people signed on-line, other members of the public have jotted down their signatures in doctors' offices throughout Vernon and the region. Peter Hill, who's organizing a Labour Day rally outside the new Polson Tower, says doctors and nurses are expected to reveal the final tally at that event. Petition organizers had been hoping for five-thousand signatures.

Vernon residents plead for acute-care beds in top two floors of empty medical tower

By Cheryl Chan, The ProvinceAugust 28, 2011 6:02 PM

A new patient care tower in the most overcrowded hospital in the B.C. Interior is set to open next month — with no new acute-care beds.  Keeping the top two floors at the $180-million state-of-the-art Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital empty when the facility opens Sept. 25 doesn’t make sense to Vernon realtor Paul Hill, who is trying to gather support for a Labour Day rally he hopes will show the province how badly the community needs the beds.  “We want to make a statement: A simple but direct request to the government to complete the two shelled-in floors at the Polson Tower and make it operational.” The new tower will include a new emergency room, new operating rooms, and a new maternity and pediatric ward, but no new acute-care beds, despite the hospital consistently operating at 10 to 30 per cent over capacity.  Hill took on the cause after hearing about too many people whose surgeries were delayed due to overcrowding, including one friend who waited a year for knee-replacement surgery. While he was waiting, the problem spread, caused by pain and imbalance, said Hill. By the time he got the procedure, he needed other surgeries to treat complications that arose from not getting the care in time.  “They are people who put their trust in the health care system,” he said. “It would have been a whole lot less expensive if he had the surgery earlier.”

It will cost $20 million to complete the two floors, which can hold 60 beds, and another $20 million annually to keep it running.  Hill said he has been advised the money is there, but that the government is looking for public input to guide its health care spending.  A previous event Hill organized on July 1 drew about 200 to 250 people. He hopes to draw up to 1,000 people to the Sept. 5 rally at the Polson Tower parking lot. An online petition  (petitiononlinecanada.com/petition/vjh-purple-ribbon-campaign-petition/136) demanding more acute-care beds has collected almost 1,500 signatures as of Sunday. NDP Leader Adrian Dix said persistent overcrowding makes hospitals less safe, increases costs in the long run, and negatively impacts the ability of doctors and nurses to work.  “What they are doing is rationing care,” he said. “It doesn’t take much to see not addressing the problem costs more than the price it takes to solve it.”

In an emailed statement, the health ministry said merely adding beds doesn’t address the underlying issue, which it identified as the clogging up of acute-care beds by patients waiting for residential care beds. It said Interior Health will have 46 new residential beds in place by 2013. It said it has also added 23 acute-care beds at the hospital over the last two years to ease the shortage.