File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Royal Inland Hospital

Province announces funding for staff supports, three new operating rooms at Royal Inland Hospital

Jul 18, 2022 | 11:11 AM

KAMLOOPS — Provincial Health Minister Adrian Dix has announced five new operating rooms split between the two largest hospitals in Interior Health. Three will be opened at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, with the other two going to Kelowna General Hospital.

In a news release, Dix says the three RIH operating rooms are slated to open in 2023. They are expected to allow the hospital to complete an additional 3,240 surgeries, or 5,400 hours, every year.

RIH will now have a base of 13 operating rooms. The province says the price tag is $6.7 million, coming by way of a one-time provincial capital investment.

Dix is also announcing a $2.9 million increase in funding “to help support additional staff in the intensive care unit, emergency department and hospitalist program at RIH, as well as additional incentives to attract staff to RIH.”

According to the province, the staffing supports at RIH include 12.7 FTEs of new physician service contract funding. The hospital will transition to a contracted intensive care program “providing 24/7 on-site physician coverage and an expanded scope of critical care services.” The new FTEs will also allow the hospital to expand emergency department coverage.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Moons

Dec 10, 2024

Question of the Week

Should Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson apologize or resign after it was found he breached a section of council's code of conduct for allowing false or misleading information to be communicated?

Dec 09, 2024

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: Donald has it wrong - again

Dec 08, 2024

The funding will also provide more healthcare aides, travel resource pool supports for nurses, retention incentives and re-entry bursaries for people returning to nursing.