More beds open next year

Photo: Darren Handschuh

The completion of two floors in Vernon Jubilee Hospital's Polson Tower are on time and should be fully operational next year.

That from Interior Health board chairman Erwin Malzer who stopped by the largest hospital in the North Okanagan while touring region Monday.

Malzer said adding the two floors will be good for patients, doctors and nurses. It will add almost 20 new beds to the hospital that is often running at capacity.

Malzer pointed out it is a “massive job” getting the two floors ready and once the staff and gear is in place patients will be moved in to the semi-private rooms that feature state-of-the-art medical equipment.

Currently, VJH has 165 beds. Once the two floors are finished, patients will have access to 182 beds.

The top two floors of the tower that was built several years ago will remain empty for now.

And the hospital is not the only area that is expanding.

IH will be adding 185 residential care beds, with 85 of those being in Vernon and the remainer in Kelowna.

Malzer could not say when construction on the new facility will begin, but there have been “multiple bids” on the contract.

While in Vernon, Malzer toured the old part of the hospital and said he is aware of the present challenges, but added IH has to ration its capital as much as it can.

“You can't change it over night,” he said.

Malzer will continue his tour of area medical facilities when he visits Salmon Arm Tuesday.