Penticton and South Okanagan

Photo: Deborah Pfeiffer

Penticton Regional Hospital

The Okanagan-Similkameen Regional Hospital District agreed Thursday to spend $20,000 of their own money toward  promotional  expenses for expansion at Penticton Regional Hospital.

There are two different campaigns currently being run to raise money for such purposes, one by the district, and the other by the Penticton Medical Staff Society.

“We are committed to spending up to $20,000 for our campaign, although we shouldn’t have to be spending this kind of  money, because it’s the government’s job to provide healthcare and build hospitals in this province,” said Garry Litke, vice chair of the hospital district.

The campaign for the district, was originally started by the city.

How the money will be spent has yet to be determined.  It could go toward bumper stickers and bill boards as well as to hiring a media consultant to work with the media in the Lower Mainland,so they can spread the message province wide.

While Vernon doctors turned to lobbyists to get work done on their hospital, Litke said he would prefer to go with a consultant instead.

“The intent of our campaign is to get more attention from the media on the Lower Mainland, as opposed to a lobbyist who just camps out in front of somebody’s office,” he said.

The medical staff society, comprised of doctors at the hospital, has so far raised $10,000, and continue to fund-raise for  promotional efforts to get the new patient tower.

Also under discussion Thursday, was who was paying for the business plan discussed by Premier Christy Clark on her visit to the hospital on Wednesday.

“About two years ago before the province committed to the patient care tower, the hospital district  had agreed to fund up to $2 million for the business plan,” said RDOS chief administrative officer Bill Newell. “So when the premier announced the government has $2 million toward the plan, that’s what needs to be clarified.

The typical split is 60 percent province and 40 per cent district,

The plan includes a high level conceptual plan and $700,000 has already been spent on that.

The second part of the plan is the business case, which is $1.3 million.

The total cost for the expansion project to the outdated hospital, built more than 60 years ago, is $300 million, with the government’s share of the project estimated to be $160 million.

Doctors stated on Wednesday that they will not give up their effort until the ground is actually broken for the new tower.