Crisis? What crisis?
Penticton Regional Hospital was designed when penicillin was not widely available, for a population of 10 000 people with an expected lifespan of 68 years.
The hospital staff over the years have pioneered new technologies to improve healthcare in the region.
The current building is being used by over 90 000 people with a life expectancy of 83 years,with an expectation of continued service excellence.
We are now regularly running at more than 107% capacity . This situation is rapidly getting worse .
Our very capable administration has been able to nip and tuck more than a busy Hollywood plastic surgeon to enable adaptation for the specialized services that are now considered standard of care. Our resourceful and inventive hospital foundation has been able to pay for a lot of these services already which were not funded by Interior Health or the Provincial Government.
There is only so much they can do.
If the patient care tower project is not accepted now, there is no guarantee this will be revisited during my working career.
We are at a cusp of a crisis. We need action now!
(excerpt from Doctor’s website.)
The urgency for this project can not be overstated. The current site is in over capacity. With the continued rapid growth in the local area and entire South Okanagan and Similkameen populations, the service need is escalating daily. It will take at least five years to construct the new hospital. We must begin, our time is now!
Please make your voice heard regarding your Regional hospital and the health care we all deserve in this region. Send a letter now to the Premier, Christie Clark, the Health Minister, the Honourable Bill Barisoff, MLA Penticton, John Slater, MLA Boundary Similkameen and Mr. Norm Embree, Chair, Interior Health Authority. Envelopes are provided for your convenience.
If you would like more information about the Penticton Regional Hospital – Patient Care Facility, we would be pleased to come and give your organization a 20 minutes presentation about the project and the need.
To make the arrangements call 250-492-9027 or e-mail janice.perrino@interiorhealth.ca