Additional medical services will soon be available for Lumby and Cherryville residents.
The North Okanagan-Columbia-Shuswap Regional Hospital District will provide $1,300 so the Lumby Health Services Society can purchase equipment for diagnosing eyes, ears, nose and throat.
“The more diagnostic equipment that is here, the fewer referrals doctors have to make to Vernon,” said Kevin Acton, Lumby mayor and NOCSRHD director.
“It will save residents trips to Vernon and it will take a lot of pressure off Vernon Jubilee Hospital.”
The equipment will allow physicians to identify conditions such as hypertension, diabetic reinopathy and papilledema.
“Having current equipment keeps the treatment room functional for health professionals to give the best care possible for patients,” said Barbara Dyck, Lumby Health Services Society administrator.
NOCSRHD was approached for the funding because the society has limited financial resources.
“The society’s source of income is fundraising and that money is used to provide health workshops and clinics for Lumby, Cherryville and outlying areas that otherwise would not be available in small communities,” said Dyck.
NOCSRHD generates its funds from local property taxes, but Acton believes most residents will understand the reasoning behind the $1,300 expenditure in Lumby.
“It will save a lot of money for the health care system through diagnosis. It’s a good investment,” he said.
