Interior Health accepts the Greater Vernon Water 2017 Master Water Plan

Posted Tuesday, January 30, 2018
As a result of hard work by Regional District elected officials, staff, and members of the Greater Vernon Master Water Plan Stakeholder Advisory Committee, the Regional District has received notice from Interior Health that the Greater Vernon Water (GVW) 2017 Master Water Plan (MWP) has been accepted.

The MWP provides a detailed assessment of the current status of the GVW system, and provides direction to ensure compliance with provincial standards to safeguard health and to meet future water needs based on predicted growth for the next 40 years.

The MWP was prepared in partnership between the Regional District, City of Vernon, and the District of Coldstream. It incorporates the technical work completed in 2012 with updates to the long term supply and treatment strategy based on recommendations from the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (2015-2016), results of recent studies, provincial policy changes, and other relevant information. Work in 2017 focused on updating the financing strategy to support infrastructure renewal as well as upgrades to the water system, recognizing the need to balance the needs of current customers with the long term costs of maintaining a safe water supply. It is a more affordable plan that will meet provincial standards and ensure the utility is sustainable into the future.

The Regional District would like to thank the members of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee for providing their time, effort and valuable assistance to enable the Regional District to complete the review and move forward with the 2017 MWP.

For more information, please visit the RDNO website at http://www.rdno.ca/index.php/services/engineering/water/greater-vernon-water/master-water-plan or contact our office at 250-550-3700.

• MEDIA RELEASE - Interior Health accepts the Greater Vernon Water 2017 Master Water Plan

2016 annual water report

http://www.rdno.ca/index.php/services/engineering/water/greater-vernon-water

• GVW 2016 Annual Report

Prepared for: Interior Health and RDNO Prepared by: Renee Clark, Water Quality Manager, RDNO Contributors: RDNO Engineering Department Regional District of North Okanagan 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC June 30, 2017

Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant UV UpgradesTender

Awarded Bids (So Far)
Bid No. Description Closing Date Awarded to: Award Value
2017-E372.09.1 Ultraviolet Disinfection at Duteau Creek Water
Treatment Plant Project – Engineering Services
20-Jan-2017 Opus International Consultants (Canada) Ltd.
$399,870.00 (plus GST)

2017-E372.09.2 Ultraviolet Disinfection at
DCWTP Project - Equipment
23-Mar-2017 Xylem Canada Company
 1,243,340.00 (plus GST)

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Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant UV UpgradesTender No. 2017-E372-09.4  Closing Date: Thursday, August 10, 2017 - 2:00 pm
The Regional District of North Okanagan, hereinafter referred to as “Owner”, invites tenders for Regional District of North Okanagan Tender No. 2017-E372-09.4, the Duteau Creek Water Treatment Plant UV Upgrades (DCWTP UV Upgrades).
The work includes the supply of all labour, materials and equipment to construct the Duteau Creek WTP UV Building and related facilities. The work includes, but is not limited to, the earthworks, concrete works, structural, installation of owner supplied UV equipment, mechanical and electrical systems necessary for the complete upgrade as detailed in the Contract Documents.

IHA engaging on drinking water

ROGER KNOX MORNING STAR Fri Jul 7th, 2017 1:30pm LOCAL NEWS

It’s a lofty goal for Interior Health: provide clean, safe, reliable water for all people at all times, and be 100 per cent compliant with the guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality. Lofty, yes. Attainable, though? “There is this interesting understanding or belief system through most of the Interior Health region, but certainly in the Okanagan, that water is pristine; that the water around us is clean and fantastic,” said Dr. Trevor Corneil, IHA’s chief medical officer, addressing Greater Vernon Advisory Committee directors on his report: Drinking Water in Interior Health, released in January. “Well it is, but it’s not necessarily clean enough for drinking and that’s the problem.” As an example, Corneil talked about the discovery of arsenic in the water after the Mt. Polley mine disaster in the Cariboo a couple of years ago, and how the discovery was upsetting to the community. “There’s arsenic in all the water in lakes in B.C.,” he said. “The belief system is the water is pure, but that’s not the reality. The reality is water has limitations in terms of health, particularly when dealing with large populations, and we need to address that with all the tools we have in our tool box.” Corneil’s report looks at the progress of water purveyors in meeting provincial standards, and reviews health impacts from waterborne diseases, assesses the number of public notifications in relation to water system improvements and the implementation of a multiple-barrier approach to protecting public health.

Interior Health oversees more than 1,900 individual drinking water systems in its region, and Corneil said IH works collaboratively with its First Nations partners with respect to hundreds more. The IH team within its Drinking Water Program “works hard to understand the challenges and opportunities of each water system.”“Our biggest focus is around community engagement,” he said, referring to the up-and-running website  drinkingwaterforeveryone.ca. “The website is an opportunity to begin a dialogue and educate those who need education on what clean water is from a health perspective. That’s a piece we haven’t done at the regional level and we are committed to moving forward with that.”

Corneil told GVAC directors there is support available in terms of funding capital improvements. “There are infrastructure funding grants and capital grants,” he said. “Interior Health’s role is to help provide you with what you need to put together your applications. The better the application,and the more criteria it meets with respect to the Canadian Drinking Water guidelines, the stronger letter of support we’re able to write in terms of funding. “Our job is really to help you as a committee address what grants are available to you and how you might look to fund what is full treatment, including filtration, of both your major sources (Duteau Creek and Kalamalka Lake) in the years to come.”

GVAC chairperson Juliette Cunningham said it’s encouraging for directors that discussions are happening about the recognition that the Regional District of North Okanagan need help in term of funding. “For us that’s been the biggest challenge,” said Cunningham. “It appears to me there is a willingness to work with us.”
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https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/75813
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, July 6, 2017 Boardroom - 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC 9:00 a.m.

D. DELEGATIONS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health - Report Presentation
Dr. Trevor Corneil, Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health Authority Gordon Moseley, Specialist Environmental Health Officer, Interior Health Authority
• PowerPoint Presentation Page 8 - 17
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G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health
• Staff report dated June 21, 2017
RECOMMENDATION 3 Page 18 - 77
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Excerpts: (Click to enlarge)

IHA Water Presentation at GVAC Thursday.

https://rdno.civicweb.net/document/75813
GREATER VERNON ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Thursday, July 6, 2017 Boardroom - 9848 Aberdeen Road, Coldstream, BC 9:00 a.m.

D. DELEGATIONS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health - Report Presentation
Dr. Trevor Corneil, Chief Medical Health Officer, Interior Health Authority Gordon Moseley, Specialist Environmental Health Officer, Interior Health Authority
• PowerPoint Presentation Page 8 - 17
--------
G. NEW BUSINESS
1. Drinking Water in Interior Health
• Staff report dated June 21, 2017
RECOMMENDATION 3 Page 18 - 77
That the report dated June 21, 2017 from the Manager, Utility Operations titled “Dr. Corneil, Chief Medical Health Officer, presentation on the Drinking Water in Interior Health report
released in January 2017” be received for information.

Water Report Calls For Investment

Vernon, BC, Canada / 1075 KISS FMPete McIntyre June 07, 2017 04:46 pm

Health officials are urging Interior communities — like Greater Vernon — to move forward with system improvements, to make drinking water safer. That’s one of the recommendations from a new report on water systems by Interior Health. Medical Health Officer Dr. Trevor Corneil says water suppliers tend to over-rely on advisories or notices for water health concerns, which he says makes people forget there’s still a risk. “They tend to forget individuals who are at highest risk, whether its children, pregnant women, the elderly, or others with immune disorders, actually do have to boil their water and can’t drink the water coming out of the tap,” says Corneil. He says the notices and advisories also give water suppliers a reason to not improve their infrastructure. “A city does have to invest. A city has to support its infrastructure. And this is where provincial and federal grants come in. They match, and can cover significant portions of those costs,” Corneil tells Kiss FM. Interior Health has been urging local politicians to add more filtration to the Duteau and Kal Lake systems, each with multi million dollar price tags. Corneil says the report should serve as a reset button on drinking water. “This is really an opportunity for Vernon specifically to reset that button and to look at the data in a new way, and to work with Interior Health on improvements. I think Vernon is a great example of a city that has struggled with water. We know they have a high frequency of water advisories.” Among the report’s recommendations is a more collaborative engagement process with water operators and First Nations communities, to ensure sustainable improvements are made and provincial water treatment objectives are achieved by 2025. “This could include upgrades to water treatment facilities, improved source protection, and the development of response plans to help protect public health during unexpected situations,” adds Corneil.

There are a few reasons behind the Vernon family doctors' shortage, and they're nothing new

By Charlotte Helston INFONEWS.CA January 17, 2017 - 2:30 PM
VERNON - One of the founding members of a closing Vernon walk-in clinic says physicians have been bracing for a shortage of family doctors for years. Rob Sawatzky, former Vernon mayor and a retired family doctor, was one of the physicians who started up the community’s first walk-in clinic in 1991. The Gartree Medical Clinic remained open for 25 years — continuing on after Sawatzky retired and became mayor — but the clinic’s current partners announced last week they are closing down because there is only one doctor left. Before starting Gartree, Sawatzky ran his own family practice but he, along with his colleagues, saw the need for a walk-in clinic. With more households having two people working full time instead of one, Sawatzky says there was demand for after hours and weekend access to a doctor. “Walk-in clinics fit the modern lifestyle with people working and everyone on the go,” Sawatzky says. While the number of doctors at the clinic went up and down over the years, there were usually three full time physicians and four part time, Sawatzky says. “We were busy,” Sawatzky says. “You’d better be ready to work when you were there.”

After Gartree, two other walk-in clinics eventually opened up; the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic at the Fruit Union Plaza and the North Okanagan Medical Clinic at the Real Canadian Superstore. Last year, the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic closed permanently, and the new Sterling Centre opened up from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekends. Packed waiting rooms are standard at Vernon's walk-ins, and it’s not uncommon to be out of luck by noon if the clinic has already stopped accepting patients for the day. Sawatzky says there are a few different factors that contributed to the current situation. “Those of us who’ve been around as long as I have could see these changes coming down the pipe years ago,” Sawatzky says. They are changes and challenges not just in Vernon, but around the province. One reason, according to Sawatzky, has to do with curriculum changes at medical school. “It used to be that everyone had to do a rotating internship, which exposed them to family medicine, and a certain percentage would like it and stay in it,” he says. Now, students have to commit to a specialty before ever trying out the different areas, and family practice is often not the first choice. “There is a bias that treats family practice as second class,” Sawatzky says. “You do that, and look what happens.” Another factor is what Sawatzky calls the ‘chicken coop effect.’ “Med schools are typically in large urban centres. Students will stay there for years, do their speciality training there, and… a percentage will not go to places that are even as attractive as Vernon because they are, quote, ‘too rural.’” Another trend affecting things is the number of baby boomers hitting their senior years and putting big demands on health care. “It’s the ‘silver tsunami,’” Sawatzky says. “We are aging, and aging people need more medical care, so you need more doctors.” From talking to people, Sawatzky says Vernon has a reputation for being a difficult place to get a family doctor. “I hear people say I am moving here and people told me I’d have a hard time finding a doctor,” he says. “That is certainly the impression I get from people.” In terms of attracting new residents to the city, Sawatzky says access to doctors definitely comes into the equation. “We are a very attractive community. We are close to post-secondary education, close to an airport, close to four seasons of recreation and outdoors,” he says. “I think having services like education and health really matter. It’s part of the package you hope you can offer people.”

Having once sat in the mayor’s chair, Sawatzky says there’s not much municipal governments can do to get more doctors, aside from making the community an attractive place to live and hoping physicians give it a chance. “The broad trends are what senior levels of government need to look at,” he says. “Are you training enough doctors? Are you training enough of the right type?” The Gartree Medical Clinic closes at the end of March, leaving Vernon with only two walk-in clinics.

Walk-In Clinic Closing

Posted on 1/12/2017 11:24 AM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
One of Vernon's walk in clinics will be closing it's doors. The Gartree Clinic in the Vernon Square Mall will shut down as of March 24th, as we confirmed with office manager Nancy Spiers. "That will be the last patient day, and then for our lease, we have to be out of here on the 31st," Spiers told Kiss FM. Spiers says the clinic is down to one doctor, William Fehr, and he can't do it all by himself. The facility has been open at that site since the mall opened in 1991, and went to reduced hours a year ago when they went down to two doctors. It will leave Vernon with two walk in clinics: one in the Superstore and the other in the Sterling Centre.A walk-in clinic in the Fruit Union Plaza shut down last March, which operators said was due to a lack of doctors.
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Vernon medical clinic closes doors
by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Vernon posted Jan 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM— updated Jan 12, 2017 at 11:48 AM

Vernon's original walk-in clinic is closing down. March 24 will be the last day for patients at the Gartree Medical Clinic in the Vernon Square mall. "We have only one doctor at this time and other doctors are not available," said Nancy Spiers, office manager. Gartree opened its doors in the early 1990s, but has experienced some challenges in recent years, including reducing hours in January 2016 because only two physicians were available for shifts. Patients are being advised of the pending closure as they arrive at the clinic and advertisements will be run in the newspaper. Patients will have the opporunity to get a copy of their medical files, while Med Records will provide storage of medical files once the office closes. Three employees will lose their jobs at Gartree. Gartree's closure will leave only two walk-in clinics in Vernon — North Okanagan Medical Clinic at Real Canadian Superstore and the Sterling Centre Clinic on 25th Avenue.
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One less walk-in clinic in Vernon as Gartree announces closure
By Charlotte Helston INFONEWS January 12, 2017 - 11:14 AM
VERNON - Another walk-in clinic is closing its doors in Vernon. The Gartree Medical Clinic at the Vernon Square Mall will take its last patients on March 24. It is almost one year to the day that the Vernon Family Doctors Walk-In Clinic closed in March 2016. Gartree’s office manager Nancy Spiers says they are down to just one physician, who simply cannot run the clinic on his own. “There was really no choice,” Spiers says. The clinic requires three doctors to run the clinic full time. Last January, the clinic was forced to shorten to half days as a result of only having two physicians. Now, one of them is away for personal reasons, leaving just one doctor. “He can’t do it on his own,” Spiers says. The clinic has operated in its current location since 1991, and before that it was located in the Fruit Union Plaza. Spiers says the decision to close was “very, very difficult.” “It’s tough, the community needs it,” she says. “There are lineups here every day.” Patients can get a copy of their medical records for a fee, and Med Records will store the files after the office closes. You can contact the clinic directly at 250-545-9112 for more information. There are two other medical clinics in Vernon: the North Okanagan Medical Clinic at the Real Canadian Superstore, and the Sterling Centre Clinic, which opened after the Vernon Family Doctors Clinic announced it was closing.

Province Funds Vernon Recovery Beds

Posted on 11/7/2016 5:06 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM

The Vernon area is getting more provincially funded recovery beds for people struggling with mental health and substance use issues. Interior Health has given the John Howard Society the contract to run four new support beds to serve the North Okanagan, which are located at the Blair Apartments on 28th Avenue, and already active..Barb Levesque, executive director of the society, says their role is provide clients with a safe, substance-free setting. "We are supporting them in their recovery while they attend and receive counselling from Interior Health staff. And this gives people a stable place to live, daily support, social things to do and assistance with daily living," Levesque says in an interview with Kiss FM. The clients will stay at the site while they await residential treatment, return from treatment, or transition to a more stable lifestyle. "It's one of the many ways you can support addictions recovery without actually doing residential services," adds Levesque. Levesque calls the Blair Apartments a great site for the beds, as it's close to downtown and close to public transit. And we will have staff on site seven days a week to support everybody at the apartments, but certainly those needing life care support." “This is fantastic news for the residents of the North Okanagan,” says Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster. “Additional beds mean additional services and supports to get those struggling with mental health and substance use issues back on their feet.” “Interior Health is working to shift the health-care system away from hospitals and towards care being provided in a community setting,” says IH Board Chair Erwin Malzer. “Having these beds available in the North Okanagan for area residents meets our goal for helping our clients directly within the communities and areas they call home.” “We’re very pleased and honoured to have these beds for residents of the North Okanagan situated here in the city of Vernon,” says Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund. “The city of Vernon looks forward to continuing work with Interior Health and the John Howard Society to make sure the right supports and services are available here in our area.”

Five ODs in a day

By Kate Bouey - CASTANET Aug 31, 2016 / 3:34 pm
At least five people were taken to Vernon Jubilee Hospital suffering from illicit drug overdoses Tuesday and there is concern they are linked to the same drug used in recent overdoses in Kamloops – where an overdose alert has been issued following a fatality. “There were five cases of overdoses in one day,” confirmed Dr. Silvina Mema, of Interior Health. “That is a lot compared to what we usually get from Vernon which is five per week.” All were treated with naloxone, an antidote which counters the effects of an overdose, before being released, said the medical health officer. “A surveillance system was put in place on June 1 so overdoses are reported to the medical health officer. The system is beginning to show its usefulness," said Mema. Mema said the shocking number of overdoses in a day raises concern there may be a drug circulating in the Vernon area that has effects not usually seen in a user. “It is not what the user thinks it is,” she said, adding that medical staff did not know if the drug users thought they were taking fentanyl, morphine or heroin. More than half of the drug overdose deaths in B.C. are linked to fentanyl, with other drugs often laced with the powerful opioid. The Kamloops area also reported five overdoses within the last 48 hours, with one fatality, said Mema. In those cases, the users were together and described using a “sparkly, white powder,” she said.
An IH press release stated the powder may be being sold as cocaine on the street. Mema said there is some concern the Vernon cases could be linked to the same drug, due to the timing of the ODs. Mema urges illicit drug users to have a naloxone kit nearby when using, to recognize the signs of an overdose and to call 911. Users can obtain naloxone kits from the Vernon Health Unit at 1440 14th Avenue or Vernon Downtown Primary Care at 3306a 32nd St., she said.

Syrian refugee health protocol to become Interior Health standard

July 19, 2016 - 11:35 AM INFO.NEWS.CA
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - The Interior Health Authority has developed a culturally-sensitive health care protocol to deal with Syrian refugees and plans to make it the standard for all refugees, immigrants and temporary foreign workers. The protocol was developed beginning last fall in response to the iminent arrival of as many as 400 Syrian refugees, the health authority announced in a media release. It took a massive collaboration at all levels of the health care system and recruitment of a range of health care providers and specialists willing to work with the refugees under the Interim Federal Health program, the health authority says. Refugee health teams were set up at primary health care centres in Kelowna, Kamloops and Vernon, which performed primary screening and immunization as well treatment of urgent health care needs. The final number of refugees who settled in within the health authority was 135, the release says, with Kelowna taking in 68 between November 4, 2015 and April 24, 2016. Kamloops welcomed 22 refugees, Vernon took in seven and Penticton resettled five with the rest spread out throughout towns in the Okanagan and Shuswap areas. Of those, 47 were government sponsored and 88 were were privately sponsored.

IH execs rake in $1.5M

By Wayne Moore - CASTANETJun 28, 2016 / 4:54 pm 
Interior Health paid out wages and benefits to six executives in the amount of $1.5 million for the 2014-2015 fiscal year. The health authority's fiscal year ended March 31, 2015.Figures were obtained from the yearly financial report the health authority is required to make public.

According to figures, Interior Health CEO, Robert Halpenny earned $410,000. That included a base salary of $315,000, along with bonuses, benefits and pension contributions of $95,000. Halpenny stepped down as CEO, effective Oct. 26, 2015. Interior Health has an overall budget of close to $2 billion. Of that, $917.9 million went to wages. That was compared with wages amounting to $896.1 million in 2014 and $848.1 in 2013. The document is similar to one produced by municipalities each year. It takes 65 pages to document each employee earning $75,000 or more.

Other executive salaries, including benefits:

Jeremy Etherington, VP Medicine & Quality - $339,248
Andrew Neuner, VP Community Integration - $294,248
Donna Lommer, VP Residential & CFO - $286,278
John Johnston, VP People and Clinical - $290,111
Wendy Hansson, VP Community Integration - $34,099
In all, 3,400 Interior Health employees earn $75,000 or more.
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(included Some Doctors Salaries )
Financial Information Act
Schedule of Suppliers of Goods or Services
For the Year Ending March 31, 2015

Gastrointestinal outbreak not contained to Lumby luncheon

By Charlotte Helston INFONEWS.CA June 17, 2016 - 4:30 PM
LUMBY - Reports of people getting sick with a gastrointestinal bug keep climbing in Lumby with health officials now calling the situation widespread in the community. Following a Lumby Days luncheon event June 11, Interior Health received reports of at least two dozen people falling ill, including Vernon’s mayor, the North Okanagan Regional District board chair, and members of the Lumby Fire Department. Now, Interior Health’s Medical Health Office says the number of people who got sick has risen to roughly 50. The health authority is also confirming that not all the individuals attended the luncheon or had contact with people who went to it. “Based on this we suspect that there is widespread viral gastrointestinal activity in the community,” states the health authority. Medical officials believe the outbreak is viral and suspect norovirus, but that is not yet confirmed. Interior Health investigators have spoken with the caterer and say that person has been fully cooperative. There is currently no evidence suggesting the caterer is at fault. Anyone who experiences symtoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or fever is advised to stay home and wash their hands frequently to avoid spreading the virus.

Politicians Among 24 Sick After Lunch

Posted on 6/14/2016 4:14 PM by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Health officials are looking into the cause of at least two dozen cases of gastrointestinal illness by people who attended a dignitaries lunch during Lumby Days. Vernon mayor Akbal Mund, RDNO chair Rick Fairbairn and MLA Eric Foster are among those who have gotten sick since the luncheon Saturday. Interior Health Medical Health Officer Dr. Silvina Mema says they are investigating a possible cause from the food product that was served. "It was a luncheon attended by about 75 to 80 people, and of those, we know at least 24 are sick. The symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and fever that developed some hours after," Mema tells Kiss FM. Dr. Mema says they in the process of interviewing people who got sick, and talking with people that catered the lunch. "We are going to do an inspection of the facility that catered to the luncheon to determined if there was any potential source of infection at that site." Mema says they are still not sure what the source was. "From the symptoms we are hearing, we think this could be Norovirus or the stomach flu."

Check wait times for Vernon walk-in clinics online

June 01, 2016 - 10:30 AM Charlotte Helston Info News.CA  
VERNON - Three local walk-in clinics are posting their wait times online thanks to a new B.C.-based website. The website, medimap.ca, allows clinics to post estimated wait times online and is being used in a number of communities across the province, including in Kelowna. Three Vernon walk-ins are listed on the site, including the Sterling Centre Clinic, the North Okanagan Medical Clinic and the Gartree Medical Clinic. Along with the estimated wait times, medimap.ca also provides clinic hours, location and general contact information. The site was created by a pair of Vancouver men who wanted to reduce hassle for both patients and clinic staff. “We understand how frustrating it can be to travel to a walk-in clinic only to find that they are no longer accepting patients for the day. Calling various clinics in the area is a waste of time for both you and the clinic staff,” states a write-up on the website. Wait times are updated frequently, but patients are warned they are estimates only and can change quickly. It is free for clinics to register on the site.
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Update screen shot as at 11:40 AM Today:

Hospital Laundry Service Contracted Out

Posted on 3/1/2016 by Pete McIntyre 107.5 KISSFM
Interior Health has decided to contract out laundry services. The agency's board has announced a 20-year agreement with Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service to provide the majority of linen and laundry services through a centralized Kelowna-based facility, supported by regional distribution centres. "Ecotex is an experienced British Columbia based laundry service company and has provided laundry and laundry services for Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, Provincial Health Services, and Providence Health Care among other clients," says an Interior Health news release. Board chair Erwin Malzer says a clear case exists to proceed with outsourcing laundry services at their major facilities, which he says will produce a savings of about $35 million over the life of the contract. He says I-H will be able to increase investment in facilities and equipment to support direct patient care. The Hospital Employees Union has opposed privatizing the services, claiming it will cost 175 jobs including 17 for the staff who provide the service at Vernon Jubilee Hospital. I-H says the following sites where laundry services are currently provided will be affected: Kelowna General Hospital, Kootenay Lake Hospital in Nelson, Penticton Regional Hospital, Vernon Jubilee Hospital, and Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. "A total of 93 full-time equivalent positions will be impacted by the decision. Interior Health will work closely with the affected employees and the Hospital Employees’ Union (HEU) to ensure a smooth transition of the service to Ecotex by Summer 2017," says an Interior Health news release.

Council donates funds

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Feb 28, 2016 at 1:00 AM
A Coldstream politician isn’t thrilled with taxpayers providing a donation to a local organization. Council has decided the district’s $55,000 share of the surplus from the disbandment of the North Okanagan Hospital District be given to the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation. “When you take money from the taxpayer and you get some of it back, they (taxpayer) should enjoy the benefit,” said Coun. Gyula Kiss, who was the only member of council to raise his hand in opposition. “The donation should be done by individual residents,” he said. Mayor Jim Garlick defends the decision to provide the money to the foundation. “The hospital is something we all use,” he said. “This money is surplus from a defunct service so to use it for medical equipment is important.”
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Don Quixote Note:
How Vernon distributed their same refund:
http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/funds-returned-to-ease-tax-load.html

Original Announcement of return of disbandment of the North Okanagan Hospital District Surplus to each jurisdiction.:

Based on the 2015 BC Assessment Revised Roll, the surplus will be apportioned approximately:

Armstrong ... 19,500 Coldstream ...... 55,600 Enderby ...... 1 0,100 Lumby ....... 7,400 Spallumcheen .. 25,100 Vernon … 232,500  Electoral Area B .. 24,200 Electoral Area C .... 25,900 Electoral Area D ..... 10,400 Electoral Area E .... 2,900 Electoral Area F ... 22,400 

Water Testing Pilot Project Applied For

Posted on 1/25/2016 by Ron Manz 107.5 KISSFM
The Regional District North Okanagan is applying to the BC Government for a $10-thousand dollar grant for a water treatment testing pilot project. The pilot would look at alternative methods of treating water at the Duteau Creek Water Treatment plant. Board Chair Rick Fairbairn says if successful, it could mean some significant savings for water customers. "Look at some additonal methods to pre-treat the water and if that's successful we would be in a position to possibly delay or defer parts of the filtration system that has been proposed by Interior Health." Fairbairn says they will supplement the total cost of the pilot project out of reserve funds. "Maybe instead of having to put a filtration plant in, it will give us an opportunity to approach it from another angle that we can achieve the results without a filtration plant or at least reduce the costs." "The Regional District will supplement some of the costs out of the reserves to proceed. This is a grant to get the ball rolling. We all have good intentions but it is difficult to put a termination date on, because it has to go through the approval process so it is going to take some time." Interior Health is asking that the Regional District install a $30-million dollar filtration plant to bring water quality up to it's preferred standard.
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see also http://vernonblog.blogspot.ca/2016/01/scrubbing-water.html

Doctors set up walk-in

by Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 13, 2016 at 1:00 AM
With access to physicians increasingly challenging, there is some good news. A new walk-in medical clinic will open in March at the Sterling Centre Clinic on 25th Avenue. “This is an initiative from a group of family physicians in Vernon,” said Dr. Chris Cunningham, one of the doctors involved. “They either have their practices in town or work at other clinics or facilities.” Word of the new clinic comes at the same time that the walk-in clinic in the Fruit Union Plaza is closing in March and the clinic in the Vernon Square mall has reduced its hours. While recruiting physicians has been an issue locally, Cunningham is confident the new walk-in can proceed. “We looked at this challenge but we think we can structure this and address the needs,” he said. “There is a need in the patients within the community.” Details on the opening date and hours of operation have not been announced yet, but it will be open evenings and weekends. “It will be a modern new facility with electronic medical records set up,” said Cunningham.

Walk-in clinic closing doors early

by Jennifer Smith - Vernon Morning Star posted Jan 10, 2016 at 1:00 AM— updated Jan 10, 2016 at 6:53 AM

Access to Vernon walk-in clinics is getting even slimmer. Just as the community received news that the Vernon Family Doctors Walk In Clinic is closing its doors in March, another one has been forced to slash its hours. The Gartree Medical Clinic, in the Vernon Square mall, has reduced its weekday hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. to closing its doors early at 1 p.m. It remains open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. “One of our doctors left so we’re down to just two doctors now,” said Dr. Tim Bintley, who operates the clinic with Dr. William Fair. The two have split up the work schedule and have also let go one of the administrative staff members due to the schedule changes. With one doctor working each day, they stay until they’ve reached the 50-patient mark, which is what they get paid for, according to Bintley. “Our hours vary,” he said, after working until 3:30 p.m. one day and finishing earlier on another. The Gartree Clinic has been recruiting, and has sent notices to the doctors at the clinic which is closing in March. Bintley isn’t sure why Gartree hasn’t been able to attract anyone, as he claims that there is not a doctor shortage. Instead, he says there is a lack of doctors who are willing to work at walk-ins.