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Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 13th, 2012, 11:31 am
by nepal
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Does anyone know the schedule for the planned Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion?
The Penticton facility is in dire need of it and hasn't seen upgrades in decades!


In recent years, hundreds of millions have been spent on the Kelowna hospital, with several major projects, with yet another major expansion announced in today's news, as well as major expansions that have been done in Vernon and Kamloops. Also, Kelowna's IHA 1,000 staff office highrise tower just announced for Kelowna. Is the Penticton Regional Hospital part of the plan?
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Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 13th, 2012, 1:10 pm
by fluffy
Recent moves by IHA seem to show a preference towards centralization of medical services. I wonder if their thought is that we can start driving to Kelowna, the same way Summerland patients were told to drive to Penticton a few years ago when they all but closed the hospital there?

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 13th, 2012, 8:13 pm
by nepal
-fluffy- wrote:Recent moves by IHA seem to show a preference towards centralization of medical services. I wonder if their thought is that we can start driving to Kelowna, the same way Summerland patients were told to drive to Penticton a few years ago when they all but closed the hospital there?

The gutting of other communities' jobs and centralizing them into the mega K is very discouraging and destructive to the other communities. Centralizing is not practical for the hospital. If that were the case, they might as well trade our ambulances in for hearses, as many wouldn't survive the long, unreliable journey to K. The Penticton Regional Hospital is very important and serves a large area. Maybe a South Okanagan Similkameen Health Authority (SOSHA), would retain the health tax money where it comes from. I am hopeful IHA is working on a plan to get on with upgrading and expanding the Penticton Regional Hospital.
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Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 13th, 2012, 8:44 pm
by JLives
Hopefully they upgrade security systems too. When my Mom was in there from a brain aneurism bursting she escaped and showed up at home.

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 13th, 2012, 9:07 pm
by glassmaster
jennylives wrote:Hopefully they upgrade security systems too. When my Mom was in there from a brain aneurism bursting she escaped and showed up at home.


I'm not a fan of our medical system or services ... too many stories like yours. I dread if/when I need to visit the emergency department of the PRH. I have to believe that it can change.

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 19th, 2012, 7:19 pm
by save lakeshore drive
the expansion wont happen without a public outcry to demand a major improvement at the hospital,nothing has been approved and the governments stand is there is no public demand for one even though the hospital is running at 110% .We have some of the best staff in B.C. and it is a shame for them to work in this type of enviroment, it is a shame people are on beds in the hallway from lack of space.Seniors need this service,our children need this service and one day all of us will be seniors and ned better service.The hospital was built in the 50s for a population of 10,000 and at present with outlying areas it is serving 90,000.We need to write letters to the government to demand an expansion.I will try to get some addresses.only a major responce from the public will get this through...make some noise,thanks

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 21st, 2012, 8:09 pm
by nepal
Dan Ashton says the Penticton hospital project is a top priority (todays newspaper). Let's hope he's true to this, providing tbe Libs are re-elected. No matter which party is elected, it is a top priority.

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 21st, 2012, 10:21 pm
by totoramona
I recently spent many, many hours and days in the pediatric ward at PRH. There were only a couple of kids and all the rest of the rooms were occupied by seniors. The ward can only be described as worn and depressing, filled with old equipment and outdated procedures. While I am forever grateful for Canada's universal medical system, this ward would be my first choice for an upgrade.

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Oct 23rd, 2012, 5:12 pm
by skungy
The reason Vernon got a new Hospital before Penticton is purely political and a case of "squeaky wheel gets the grease".
I saw the Consultant reports done in June 2003 showing PRH required millions more to bring it up to standard than Vernon Jubilee (44$ MIllion for PRH vs 19$ Million for VJH) this is almost twice as much. After seeing the report I could never understand why Vernon got a new hospital ahead of Penticton . IHA works in mysterious ways but are very sensitive to media pressure and any bad publicity. Unfortunately, the residents of Penticton have been too quiet and in denial about the state of PRH, also PRH seems to be maintained and operated better standard than VJH was, however this could not overcome the obvious ageing infrastructure and mechanical systems issues as well the the numerous space and outdated Lab and OR issues
recognized in the Report.

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Nov 5th, 2012, 8:40 pm
by nepal
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Good to the see the City is finally starting the fight to get this much needed Penticton hospital project funded. They encourage people to write MLA Bill Barisoff and let him know how important a new patient care centre is in Penticton

MLA Bill Barisoff
210-300 Riverside Dr.
Penticton BC
V2A 9C9
250-487-4400
[email protected]
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Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Dec 7th, 2012, 9:21 pm
by nepal
No wonder the 1951 Penticton Regional Hospital is in poor shape, crowded and obsolete. Today's newspaper reports that the Ministry of Health has allocated about $90 per person/per year for projects in Vernon, about $138 per person for Kelowna, while Penticton has received about $22 per person! It also states that the hospital was built to serve a population of 10,500, which now serves an expanding 90,000.
Don't assume an upgrade is a done deal. Penticton is getting the short straw and even had our upgrade bumped by Kamloops, which was in less need. This is a life saving institution and is essential to this region. Hopefully our MLA is working on this situation.
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Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Dec 7th, 2012, 9:22 pm
by nepal
No wonder the 1951 Penticton Regional Hospital is in poor shape, crowded and obsolete. Today's newspaper reports that the Ministry of Health has allocated about $90 per person/per year for projects in Vernon, about $138 per person for Kelowna, while Penticton has received about $22 per person! It also states that the hospital was built to serve a population of 10,500, which now serves an expanding 90,000.
Don't assume an upgrade is a done deal. Penticton is getting the short straw and even had our upgrade bumped by Kamloops, which was in less need. This is a life saving institution and is essential to this region. Hopefully our MLA is working on this situation.
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Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Dec 7th, 2012, 9:40 pm
by XT225
nepal wrote:No wonder the 1951 Penticton Regional Hospital is in poor shape, crowded and absolete. Today's newspaper reports that the Ministry of Health has allocated about $90 per person/per year for projects in Vernon, about $138 per person for Kelowna, while Penicton has received about $22 per person! It also states that the hospital was built to serve a population of 10,500, which now serves an expanding 90,000.
Don't assume an upgrade is a done deal. Penticton is getting the short straw and even had our upgrade bumped by Kamloops, which was in less need. This is a life saving institution and is essential to this region. Hopefully our MLA is working on this situation.
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It definately IS a serious situation, nepal. I think our hospital will SURVIVE at least (since Summerland has no emerg and even Princeton and Oliver are iffy sometimes) but we need upgrades and badly. I have a real concern with our MLA who is a nice chap but is now coasting and not likely to insist on more funding at this point. Plus we pretty much know that the NDP will form the next Provincial Government and IF the populace elects Dan Ashton as our MLA under the Liberal banner there is a snowballs chance in you know where that we will even be listened to for the next 4 years. This area will suffer big time. Adrian Dix will say "you're Dan who from where?"

Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Feb 13th, 2013, 9:35 pm
by nepal
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.Many hundreds turned out tonight to a meeting to support major upgrades to Penticton Regional Hospital. So many citizens came to the meeting that another section of the Trade and Convention Centre had to be opened to accommodate the big crowd. Several doctors spoke of the vastly inadequate old facility as it is now and how desperate the situation has become. Many citizens also spoke of the deplorable situation. The problem with Penticton is that the citizens are too polite and reserved (which makes it a nice place to live) and don't raise enough stink to get the attention of the politicians. Not one representative from IHA was there to speak, nor any representative from Provincial or Federal Government!!! (shame), even though much of the funding is being raised locally. This must become a top funding priority, now.
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http://prhtower.ca/
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http://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/news/189839971.html
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Re: Penticton Regional Hospital upgrades and expansion

Posted: Feb 15th, 2013, 10:09 am
by XT225
Christy Clark made an appearance this morning at PRH. Damage control? Gotta give the doctors credit, that public meeting got the Provincial Govts attention!