Construction on the new seven storey Patient Care Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital is officially underway.

Premier Gordon Campbell, and Health Minister George Abbott, were on hand for the occasion Monday morning.

The new tower, which will take three years to construct, will include a new ICU, operating rooms, plus a new maternity and pediatrics ward.

"The new patient care tower in Vernon will provide modernized patient services and new facilities to help meet the growing demand for health care services," says Campbell.

"The number of patient cases coming through Vernon Jubilee Hospital is projected to increase by more than 25 per cent over the next 11 years, from 12,500 to 15,900 cases by 2020."

Infusion Health is responsible for building maintenance and project financing of the expansion at VJH and the expansion going on at Kelowna General Hospital.

Infusion Health entered into a fixed price public-private partnership with the government to design, build, finance and maintain both facilities for 30 years.

The government says Interior Health will continue to be responsible for clinical, housekeeping and food services.

The cost of the expansions in Vernon and Kelowna totals more than $432 million.