Political concerns are unfolding about possible privatization of hospital laundry services.
Debate about the Interior Health Authority’s review of laundry ensued at the Columbia-Shuswap-North Okanagan Regional Hospital District meeting in Salmon Arm Tuesday.
“I don’t want to see it leave the area,” said alternate director Duane Hackett.
IHA spends about $10 million a year to operate the laundry service and it has suggested $10.5 million is needed over the next several years to replace equipment such as washing machines.
It’s currently seeking requests from proposals from companies to determine if privatization will proceed.
“Is it more economical to improve what you have (infrastructure or to ship the laundry to Vancouver or somewhere else with the transportation costs?” said Hackett.
“We want them to come back to us with a plan so we can scrutinize where they are going.”
Other concerns are also coming from director Mikse Macnabb.
“IHA hasn’t considered the greenhouse gases if they ship laundry to a remote location,” he said.
Like Hackett, Macnabb questions the process IHA is following.
“What parameters were considered to look at in-house laundry compared to external?” said Macnabb.
“The feeling around our table is the information could have been more detailed.”
IHA currently has five large and six small laundry sites with 175 employees. In Vernon, there are 15 full-time equivalent staff.
