Regional taxpayers will have to foot about 24 percent of the cost of the new 30 million dollar bed project at Vernon's hospital. That came as a bit of a surprise to some local officials, but MLA Eric Foster says it's always been considered a cost sharing project. "It's always been my understanding that when it came time to build these floors that the regional hospital district would be coming to the table, and they're quite happy to do it." However, Rhona Martin, chair of the North Okanagan- Columbia Shuswap regional hospital district, says they've talked about support, but there's been no final decision. The VJH hospital foundation, which the Health Minister also said will be contributing, has not discussed the issue yet. The tab works out to 22 million dollars from the province and just over 7 million from the regional hospital district and the hospital foundation. Meantime, the Health Minister says the announcement for new beds is not just an election ploy. Even though the B.C. election is just three months away, and there could be a change of government, Margaret MacDiarmid told the media, the money is in the bank. "And when we say we're going to do it and that money is in our budget, people can count on it. People in Vernon can count on it that this project is going ahead," MacDiarmid said Thursday. Vernon NDP candidate Mark Olsen has suggested the announcement to add 14 new beds and relocate 46 others, was just an election related photo op, and won't make much difference to the overcrowded conditions.
Friday, February 08, 2013
VJH Funding Plan Caught Some By Surprise
Written by Peter McIntyre Friday, 08 February 2013 16:40
Regional taxpayers will have to foot about 24 percent of the cost of the new 30 million dollar bed project at Vernon's hospital. That came as a bit of a surprise to some local officials, but MLA Eric Foster says it's always been considered a cost sharing project. "It's always been my understanding that when it came time to build these floors that the regional hospital district would be coming to the table, and they're quite happy to do it." However, Rhona Martin, chair of the North Okanagan- Columbia Shuswap regional hospital district, says they've talked about support, but there's been no final decision. The VJH hospital foundation, which the Health Minister also said will be contributing, has not discussed the issue yet. The tab works out to 22 million dollars from the province and just over 7 million from the regional hospital district and the hospital foundation. Meantime, the Health Minister says the announcement for new beds is not just an election ploy. Even though the B.C. election is just three months away, and there could be a change of government, Margaret MacDiarmid told the media, the money is in the bank. "And when we say we're going to do it and that money is in our budget, people can count on it. People in Vernon can count on it that this project is going ahead," MacDiarmid said Thursday. Vernon NDP candidate Mark Olsen has suggested the announcement to add 14 new beds and relocate 46 others, was just an election related photo op, and won't make much difference to the overcrowded conditions.
Regional taxpayers will have to foot about 24 percent of the cost of the new 30 million dollar bed project at Vernon's hospital. That came as a bit of a surprise to some local officials, but MLA Eric Foster says it's always been considered a cost sharing project. "It's always been my understanding that when it came time to build these floors that the regional hospital district would be coming to the table, and they're quite happy to do it." However, Rhona Martin, chair of the North Okanagan- Columbia Shuswap regional hospital district, says they've talked about support, but there's been no final decision. The VJH hospital foundation, which the Health Minister also said will be contributing, has not discussed the issue yet. The tab works out to 22 million dollars from the province and just over 7 million from the regional hospital district and the hospital foundation. Meantime, the Health Minister says the announcement for new beds is not just an election ploy. Even though the B.C. election is just three months away, and there could be a change of government, Margaret MacDiarmid told the media, the money is in the bank. "And when we say we're going to do it and that money is in our budget, people can count on it. People in Vernon can count on it that this project is going ahead," MacDiarmid said Thursday. Vernon NDP candidate Mark Olsen has suggested the announcement to add 14 new beds and relocate 46 others, was just an election related photo op, and won't make much difference to the overcrowded conditions.
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1 comment:
What a Crock of Horse Raddish. They are going to spend $22 million dollars to create 14 new beds.
What is to become of the existing 48 beds.
Will they just become office's for the inflated bureaucracy of the IHA and Administration of VGH?
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