Funding announcement pending on Vernon Jubilee Hospital
There appears to be progress looming on overcrowding at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
Health Minister Michael de Jong will be in the community in two or three weeks.
"We will be making some announcements. it has something to do with the hospital tower," said Eric Foster, Vernon-Monashee MLA, Tuesday.
"The minister wouldn't be coming to town to make a negative announcement."
Foster doesn't know exactly when de Jong will be in Vernon or if the announcement has to do with completing both of the uncompleted floors for acute care beds, or if just one floor is involved.
"We're moving forward and we had to wait for the (provincial) budget," said Foster.
Finance Minister Kevin Falcon, who was in Vernon Tuesday, wouldn't say if there is money specifically in the provincial financial plan for VJH.
"That's for the minister of health to decide but there is a lot of money in the Ministry of Health budget," said Falcon.
Foster, civic leaders, health care workers and residents have been demanding additional acute care beds at VJH to address cancelled surgeries and patients being kept in hallways.
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