VJH is a little closer to completion today

Another step was taken today in the quest to complete the top two floors of the Polson Tower at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

Minister of Health Margaret MacDiarmid says a Request for Qualifications was released which is required in the process to select a qualified team to design and complete the project that will result in more inpatient beds to help with the future patient needs of the town.

"We're moving forward on our commitment to improving capacity at Vernon Jubilee Hospital with the release of the RFQ," MacDiarmid said. "Less than a month ago, we announced plans to add 60 beds to Polson Tower, and today we're well on our way to making that happen."

The government unveiled the floor plans Feb. 7 following an earlier announcement in April 2012 that the planning process would commence to complete the two unfinished floors.

Funding consisting of $29.6 million to complete the two floors is coming from the province, the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District and the Vernon Jubilee Hospital Foundation.

Of the 60 beds, 14 will be new and the remaining 46 will be relocated from elsewhere in the hospital. The beds will be used primarily for single patient rooms. Previously they were located in four-bed and double occupancy wards.