Kootenay East Regional Hospital District (KERHD) board chair David Wilks said he’s pleased with the announcement of a new 148-bed long-term care home coming to Cranbrook.
Wilks said the $156.5-million project is a welcomed addition to health care in the region.
“This is a big thing for Cranbrook and the area. It will certainly alleviate some people from the hospital when they could easily be taken care of in a long-term care facility,” said Wilks.
He said it has been a long time since the province has made an investment of this size in the KERHD.
“This is certainly the single-largest investment the province has done in our region for well over 20 years,” said Wilks.
“It shows that if we talk to the ministers, the ministry and Interior Health, and we explain the opportunities to make our area better, they will listen if you’re at them long enough.”
B.C. government officials said the new facility will replace the aging F.W. Green Home.
The project will happen in phases starting in 2025, with existing residents moving in by 2027.
Wilks is hopeful this could lead to more investments to come.
“I’m hoping to meet up with [Health Minister Adrian Dix] while I’m at the UBCM. He said he wants to sit down for a coffee with me and hear about other projects we envision in our area,” said Wilks. “I believe with the new oncology/renal unit, it would be a good opportunity to look at radiation.”
Previous: New long-term care facility to replace Cranbrook’s F.W. Green Home (Sept 18, 2023)