Norm Macdonald MLA                                Columbia River – Revelstoke

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

February 27th, 2009

Upgrades to the Invermere ER will come as a result of the actions of local residents

A commitment made by the Minister of Health in the Legislature this week that the Ministry is moving forward with the upgrade to the Invermere and District Hospital Emergency Room results entirely from the efforts of the people of Invermere, says the MLA for Columbia River – Revelstoke Norm Macdonald.

Doctors, patients, and local politicians have all been active in raising the issue of the need for the ER upgrade, and these are strong messages that the MLA was able to bring to meetings with the Minister of Health.

Minister Abbott was clear that plans for the upgrade are going ahead.

HANSARD excerpt, Wednesday, February 25, 2009, afternoon sitting:

Macdonald: Thank you, Minister, for taking this question. I just want to follow up on questions from estimates that I asked in spring of 2008. For the minister's reference, I also sent a letter from my office on November 14, 2008.

The issue that we talked about then was the Invermere emergency room, which has long needed upgrades. The citizens of the Columbia Valley and the doctors have made the shortcomings with that facility abundantly clear.

The hospital's emergency room is inadequate for the permanent population, and health professionals have stated that. The inadequacy is compounded by the large numbers of visitors to the Columbia Valley, which can increase the number of people depending on the services of that facility four- or fivefold.

What doctors in Invermere have said in a letter to the ministry is that that is unacceptable, and they feel that lives are in danger. So there is clear urgency with this issue.

When can we expect that money for the upgrade to be forthcoming?

Abbott: The business case development, including schematic design, is underway for the emergency department renovation project at Invermere and District Hospital.

The emergency department is a high capital priority for IHA. It is a relatively small project, probably around $4½ million, although that number will be better informed by the business case work and the detailed schematic design work currently underway.

IHA believes that planning and schematic design should be completed probably around April 2009.

“It is through effective representation and the willingness of residents to fight for what is right that decisions are made to benefit communities,” said Macdonald.  “Without that work, it would have been too easy for this government to ignore the need here in the Columbia Valley.”

Macdonald is encouraging people to continue to write letters and sign petitions.

“We will hold the Minister to his word and will be watching for an announcement this April.”