The Kootenay East Regional Hospital District (KERHD) Board of Directors has committed an additional $15 million in funding to advance the construction of a third floor on the already-approved two-story Oncology/Renal Project at East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) and demonstrate strong support for needed improvements at the hospital.
“We have been strong advocates of the expanded Renal/Oncology project for several years and committed funding well before it was formally announced to help influence the province in making this needed project a reality,” says KERHD Board Chair David Wilks. “Further, we recently worked to secure a $15 million funding commitment from Elk Valley Resources for the building project. While we are excited to see the Renal/Oncology project approved and moving into the design stage, we are disheartened that a third floor was not being considered as part of the project because we believe it is critically important.”
Following tours of the hospital and a plea with Interior Health and the Province to include a third floor in the project scope, Minister for Infrastructure, the Honourable Bowinn Ma, has advised the Ministry has no funding for a third floor, which is estimated at $30 million, so it has not been included in current design. “We know this is our one shot at getting a third floor. If they construct two floors without the third, this opportunity is gone and with it, the critically needed space to make a meaningful and long-term difference to the staff and patients at EKRH,” adds Wilks. “Our hospital is teetering on the brink. There is overcrowding, we don’t have trauma rooms, the Emergency Room needs to be expanded to the point the former waiting room is now being used to treat people, the lab is impacted, there are bed shortages, there is not proper space for respiratory and pulmonary services, and the list goes on. These are all pressures within a fragile system. We can’t lose sight of who is impacted by these pressures: people – including every doctor, nurse, patient, lab tech, family member, employee, and visitor in that hospital. We have a huge opportunity before us to think – and act – long-term to make a true difference.”
To that end, the KERHD Board approved up to $15 million in funding for the cost of adding a third floor on the Oncology/Renal Project subject to the $15 million from Elk Valley Resources also being allocated to this addition to the project. “This is as much of a win-win as we could ask for. Minister Ma has stated if we come up with the funding, her ministry is prepared to help pursue support for this project. We have now done that and look forward to seeing the third floor become a reality,” adds Wilks.
The KERHD had previously approved nearly $23.2 million for the $57.9 Oncology/Renal Expansion Project, which includes a two-floor building and 12 dedicated patient parking stalls.
