Westbank's and John Hopkins Hospital

[waterwings]

Does any one know how much of the 377 Million announced today by the Feds, for a new Health Authority for aboriginals, will be used to build the new hospital which is perported to being built as a hospital for those who can afford to pay for their own health care? Is this the Feds way of taking down Canada's health care system?

[oneh2obabe]

The private hospital has been on the drawing board since 2010-11 so why would any of the money announced today be used?

A high-end, privately funded healthcare facility is slated for development on Westbank First Nation territory in Kelowna B.C., band Chief Robert Louie has announced.

[waterwings]

Just asking...........

[mexi cali]

Bring it on. This welcome enterprise will take enormous pressure off of KGH. Let's face it; there is no shortage of wealthy folks here who will avail themselves of a facility like this one and who can blame them.

Beats the heck out of waiting.

Good on WFN for seeing the opportunity and the need.

I don't personally care who funds it as long as it gets built.

[mexi cali]

And it's Johns Hopkins.

Just sayin.

[tgm929]

Bring it on. This welcome enterprise will take enormous pressure off of KGH..

Very unlikely that this will happen. Most likely scenario is that Interior Health will become the new hospitals biggest client. KGH and possibly Penticton and Vernon hospitals will contract out a lot of patients to the new hospital because it will be a more efficient and less costly way to treat patients. Same thing that has happened with other private healthcare providers such as surgical centers, diagnostic imaging, labs, therapy, etc. These enterprises make their money from Interior Health.

So, while it will take some pressures off KGH, it will be a very small amount as money currently being spent on KGH operations will be redirected to the new facility. Any savings realized by KGH through this will just be offset by existing deficiencies and KGH patients will notice little or no difference.

[grammafreddy]

Bring it on. This welcome enterprise will take enormous pressure off of KGH..

Very unlikely that this will happen. Most likely scenario is that Interior Health will become the new hospitals biggest client. KGH and possibly Penticton and Vernon hospitals will contract out a lot of patients to the new hospital because it will be a more efficient and less costly way to treat patients. Same thing that has happened with other private healthcare providers such as surgical centers, diagnostic imaging, labs, therapy, etc. These enterprises make their money from Interior Health.

So, while it will take some pressures off KGH, it will be a very small amount as money currently being spent on KGH operations will be redirected to the new facility. Any savings realized by KGH through this will just be offset by existing deficiencies and KGH patients will notice little or no difference.

Maybe Mexicalidreamer meant that the pressure is human - not money. Maybe we won't have to wait in line as long for a knee replacement, for example.

[tgm929]

Maybe Mexicalidreamer meant that the pressure is human - not money. Maybe we won't have to wait in line as long for a knee replacement, for example.

Doubtful that it would make a noticeable difference. The surgeries Interior Health contracts out means they do less in their hospitals. They'll be some gains because they get more done by contracting out than doing themselves, but not enough difference that the average person would notice. Also, for all the private paying customers......most of these will not be coming from the okanagan, they'll be coming from all over the country and world. Plus, many of the ones from the Okanagan that will pay for surgeries at the new facility are the ones that traveled and paid for their surgeries elsewhere anyway.

I'm for this facility because it will make a bit of difference, but not really a significant one. I'm hoping that the major long lasting benefit of this facility will highlight the massive inefficiencies that occur in our health system presently.

[Tori_K]

Plus, many of the ones from the Okanagan that will pay for surgeries at the new facility are the ones that traveled and paid for their surgeries elsewhere anyway.

That alone is nice - keeps the cash within the valley rather than off to some other country.

[mexi cali]

Maybe Mexicalidreamer meant that the pressure is human - not money. Maybe we won't have to wait in line as long for a knee replacement, for example.

Exactly.