Cranbrook’s East Kootenay Regional Hospital. (MyEastKootenayNow.com staff)
Kootenay East Regional Hospital District board chair David Wilks is optimistic about future investment in local health care.
Wilks said he met with B.C.’s Health Minister Adrian Dix to discuss the challenges the region is facing.
“He reiterated that there are priorities in the province in terms of radiation such as Prince George, Kamloops and Nanaimo, but he did not write out the opportunity for Cranbrook in the future,” said Wilks. “That tells me we can continue to move forward. He’s not saying no, he’s just saying there is a priority.”
Wilks said it presents a chance for the local hospital district to show that it is ready for its own cancer treatment facility.
“If we can provide a good case, and from the perspective of a new tower, if we can get a new bunker that can satisfy the BC Cancer Society on what they may need here, why wouldn’t we at least look at it and move forward with it if we could,” said Wilks
There is also enthusiasm from outside funding sources.
“We have a number of groups that have indicated they would love to provide funding towards radiation treatment,” said Wilks. “There are groups who are willing to step forward, but they’re waiting to hear if we get it or not.”
Wilks said he hopes to find out what it would take to get a cancer treatment department in Cranbrook’s regional hospital.
