Hospital floors to be finished by fall 2015

Photo: Jennifer Zielinski

The top two floors of Vernon Jubilee Hospital’s Polson Tower should will be completed in the fall of 2015.

“This latest announcement signals completion of the procurement stage of the project and we are eagerly anticipating construction to begin in the coming weeks,” said Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster.

Following the release of a Request for Proposals to a short list of proponents in September, Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd, with Parkin Architects has been selected as the preferred design builder. The contract is for the final design and construction of two 30-bed inpatient units in the roughed-in shelled space on the sixth and seventh floors of the Polson Tower.

Construction is expected to start once initial planning meetings have occurred.

“We hear great things about the care provided at VJH,” said Interior Health Board Chair Norman Embree. “With completion of these new inpatient units, VJH will be well positioned to meet future demand for acute care in Vernon and the surrounding region.”

Of the 60 beds planned for the units, 14 will be new and the remaining 46 will be relocated from elsewhere in the hospital.

The project cost of $29.6 million is being shared between the Province, the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.                                                       

“Our hospital plays a vital role in the community and completion of the sixth and seventh floors is going to provide additional capacity and overall improved care for patients. We are happy to see that construction start is now imminent,” said NOCSRDH Chair Rhona Martin.

The majority of the 60 beds will be in private rooms complete with their own washrooms. Units will be furnished with modern equipment through the Vernon Hospital Foundation’s ongoing Tower of Care campaign.