A major expansion of long-term care services in Cranbrook is moving ahead after the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District (KERHD) board approved an additional $30 million in funding during a meeting Friday, July 11.
The decision, made during a meeting on July 11, follows a $75 million budget increase for the long-term care facility, pushing the overall project cost to $232 million.
The Province of B.C. will cover the remaining $139.2 million.
The facility will be built in two phases on the existing site in Cranbrook over the next five years and will add 150 long-term care beds to the region.
The new funding decision followed concerns among some board members over the rising cost of the project, transparency in financial planning, and the lack of local input in the budgeting process.
Despite those concerns, the board voted in favour of the funding in order to avoid potential delays or cancellation.
Interior Health officials, including interim CEO Sylvia Weir, attended the meeting and provided a presentation outlining the causes of the increased cost and efforts to prevent further overruns.
Several board members, including representatives from Kimberley and Radium Hot Springs, expressed concern over the lack of regional control in the capital planning process, saying local governments are expected to fund significant portions of major health projects without being involved in key decisions.
The F.W. Green Home project was originally approved by the province in late 2023 with a budget of $156.5 million.
Once complete, it is expected to ease pressure on East Kootenay Regional Hospital, where some acute care beds are occupied by patients awaiting placement in long-term care.
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