Capital improvements planned for the Kimberley Health Centre appear to be on hold as the province has declined to provide $3 million in funding. An additional $2 million which was to provided by the Kootenay East Hospital Board was contingent on the provincial funding.
Mayor Don McCormick says it’s a definite set back in the quest to do something with the third floor of the health centre building to make it more attractive to potential renters, as well as other improvements to the building.
He says the capital funding request was put in after almost a year’s work developing partnerships.
“I was optimistic we were going to get it,” McCormick said.
The Kimberley Health Care Society has been trying to find ways to lease the third floor, which remains in the same state it was when the hospital was closed in 2001.
“The goal was to do renovations to create a blank canvas so someone coming in to lease wouldn’t have to do costly demolition,” he said. “What we’ve been trying to do, with partnerships with Interior Health and the Ministry, is develop an opportunity for a regional campus of care.”
East Kootenay Regional in Cranbrook is at capacity, over capacity, McCormick says. Could there be opportunity to move some services from that facility to the Heath Centre in Kimberley?
“But the vision is just a vision right now,” he said. “Interior Health needs more specifics but it’s hard to specifics with the third floor being done. We thought the capital funding was the best step. Now we need a plan B.
“It’s not over. This is a set back but we’re moving forward.”
READ: Kimberley Health Centre Society presents budget
READ: City of Kimberley will provide interim financing to Health Centre Society for building improvements
