The Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District has stepped up to the plate to cover the $8.6 million in funding to install an additional in-patient care floor to the new Interior Heart and Surgical Centre about to be built on the Kelowna General Hospital site.
Hospital District board chair Robert Hobson explained it this way: “By shelling-in the floor at construction, it’s estimated there would be a saving of $8.87-million, rather than waiting to construct the additional floor at a higher cost some time in the future. The shelled-in floor would also provide needed space and flexibility while other areas of Kelowna General Hospital are renovated and upgraded.”
“The Interior Health board has indicated its support for the Regional Hospital District funding offer. The additional in-patient floor would be completed within the original project budget and due to the expected current project savings there won’t be any additional impact for taxpayers over what has already been approved by the fegional hospital oard for the project.”
“We hope to receive a favourable response in the near future from the Ministry of Health on our funding offer, as the opportunity to take advantage of the associated savings is closing on the construction contract.”
The Central Okanagan Regional Hospital District has approved a $91.3-million contribution towards the capital cost of the Interior Heart and Surgical Centre.
