The company taking over laundry services at Interior hospitals insists it’s prepared for the task.
The Interior Health Authority has signed a 20-year agreement with Abbotsford-based Ecotex Healthcare Linen Service to provide the majority of linen and laundry services at five locations, including Vernon Jubilee Hospital.
“We are always looking at opportunities to expand and bring our eco-friendly approach to the health care sector. We are excited to be in the Okanagan, investing in the region and creating local jobs,” said Randy Bartsch, Ecotex president.
Bartsch added that the contract with IHA will result in the company investing in a new Okanagan facility that will create 90 to 100 full-time, unionized jobs.
Ecotex has been providing commercial laundry services since 1959, including laundry and linen management services to the health care sector for more than 30 years.
IHA decided March 1 to contract out laundry, which will impact 93 full-time equivalent positions at five facilities in the Interior. There are 17 employees at VJH.
Numerous communities, including Vernon, had expressed concerns about the health authority contracting out the laundry service.
