Royal Inland Hospital expansion will proceed, Dix says
KAMLOOPS — B.C.’s new health minister pledged to move forward with the proposed surgical tower at Royal Inland Hospital and said Kamloops may be the recipient of an urgent-care centre outlined in the NDP’s platform.
Health Minister Adrian Dix stood with reporters Monday on a spot outside Ponderosa Lodge familiar to him as a longtime Opposition critic in the health portfolio. This time, however, he was accompanied by Interior Health public-relations staff and given full access as minister.
While speaking about government plans, Dix made special effort to recognize the jobs of health-care workers during the wildfire evacuation — from doctors and nurses taking care of patients transported from the Cariboo to plant staff who opened up the third floor of Ponderosa Lodge on Columbia Street downtown.
“Health-care workers in Kamloops did extraordinary, heroic things in the period of the wildfire — they’re not over, of course,” Dix said.
The evacuation strained resources at RIH, placing some patients in hallways and with substandard care. Dix said there will be lessons learned after the wildfires abate.
“After they’ve gone through it. people will know things they can do better next time,” he said.
Dix was asked about the new NDP government’s commitment to the proposed $417-million patient care tower at RIH. Dix said his mandate from Premier John Horgan is to get the project moving as fast as possible. Interior Health Authority executives will look at requests for qualification this fall. Construction is expected to begin next year.
Before then, Dix said bringing better primary care to Kamloops and its chronic doctor shortage is a priority.
In addition to IHA staff, Dix met with the Thompson Division of Family Practice, which represents physicians in the Kamloops area with recruiting.