Interior Health says a high priority project can be completed in Oliver in 2018 if all funding can be improved.
The project is now listed on a budget at $970 thousand with local funding $388 thousand – secondary projects for SOGH include some new flooring budget 95 thousand and a bulk oxygen system at 58 thousand.
The scope of the work will encompass the development of a new waiting and triage area, separate public emergency department entrance and the relocation of admitting services.
Chris Mazurkewich, CEO of Interior Health wrote in a letter to Mayor Ron Hovanes dated December 14th that the IHA board of directors have approved the project and included it in the capital requests for approval to various partners including the Regional Hospital District which would need to pay 40 percent  of these costs.
This project thought to be a good indication that no plans exist to closing the Emergency Ward at South Okanagan General Hospital.
Interior Health has scheduled a meeting with local politicians for February 2nd to discuss this and other concerns expressed about health outcomes and capital projects.