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Ministry Says PGRH Needs Millions in Prep for Cancer Clinic

By 250 News

Thursday, September 25, 2008 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C.- Before the Northern Cancer Clinic is built, Prince George Regional Hospital will need to undergo some changes. The Chair of the Regional Hospital District, Don Zurowski says the District recently received an advisory from the Minister of Health, stating PGRH needs $9.5 million dollars of investment as part of the Northern Cancer Strategy.
The Regional Health District raises money through property taxes to fund 40% of the cost of capital projects.  While there are more than $2 million dollars in reserves, that falls short of the $3.8 million the Hospital District would need to fund it’s 40% share. Zurowski says he would want to make sure taxes are not hiked for the balance “No one will have to suffer a major hit”
Zurowski says the Regional Hospital District will be taking a very close look at the investment items “We need to ensure that the requests do not involve items that are the responsibility of the B.C. Cancer Agency and we will draw the line there.”
Certainly the need for palliative care beds and a power generation system that will supply the Cancer clinic and PGRH are within the Hospital District’s mandate says Zurowski, but there needs to be talks with the Ministry of Health to determine which other services or capital expenditures should be handled by the B.C. Cancer Agency.

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Posted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Comment Posted by: Harbinger on September 25 2008 12:27 PM
Everytime ya blink there are a thousand hands out for dough for a cure for cancer. All this money exempt for this project? That's OK. Tax me again. I'm Canadian.
Comment Posted by: metalman on September 25 2008 12:43 PM
NHA probably has to hire another hundred mid level bureaucrats and administrators to be able handle tha increased workload. Oh, if there is any money left over, they can throw it towards hiring some docs and nurses too, for the pie in the sky cancer treatment centre. Can you tell I am a real fan of the NHA?
metalman.
Comment Posted by: willowynde on September 25 2008 2:49 PM
I know this is a simplistic view, but why is there no problem in spending over 8 million for 30 homeless beds and there is a problem of spending 9.5 million for a badly-needed cancer facility.

And why is it reasonable to pay 8 million for 30 beds? At that kind of money, it would be cheaper to build thirty homes.
Comment Posted by: metalman on September 25 2008 3:31 PM
Oh my, willow, you are so right. I assume you mean the Indian friendship centre lodge on the corner of 17th and Queensway.
That place is a monument to governmental stupidity (oops, an oxymoron)
metalman.
Comment Posted by: duffer on September 25 2008 3:44 PM
The city should put the money they are going to waste on the Performing Arts Centre toward the cancer clinic. A lot more people will use that than they ever will a PAC.
Comment Posted by: ontwin on September 25 2008 4:28 PM
While the need exists for this clinic,where are the staff,the Dr's and the room for this place going to come from??They can't possibly cram anymore building on the PGRH site.The parking is inadequate now and controlled by ImPark.Staff pays $30/mo and it doesn't guarantee you a parking space.They better be adding a very large,multi-floored parking structure to the lot.
On any given day the hospital has people waiting in ER for a bed and all the floors are over at least 2-3 people.Beds in shower rooms,lounges,hallways,and doubling up in rooms.Its unsafe for patients and staff.This clinic will be utilised by those who need it and save the need to travel to Vancouver for treatment but only if it can be staffed properly and at present PGRH isn't and hasn't been for some time.Good luck!
Comment Posted by: gus on September 25 2008 8:54 PM
Parking rates at an out of town hospital in a larger city

0 - 10 mins. ................NO CHARGE
10 - 30 mins. .............. $3.00
30 - 60 mins. .............. $6.00
60 - 90 mins. .............. $9.00
90 - 120 mins. ............ $12.00
PLEASE NOTE: Daily Maximum: $12.50
Monthly Pass: $75.00 (available for purchase at Parking Lot Kiosk)
7-day pass: $45.00 (available for purchase at Parking Lot Kiosk)
Comment Posted by: ontwin on September 25 2008 9:56 PM
Gus re: your post
They also post when "lot is full",have parkades or multi tiered garages and a real transit system (so you can leave your car at home)I'm sure staff have no problem getting a spot when they come to work.
Try getting to work for 7 a.m on transit here..can't be done.The only up side to controlled lot is it keeps the "moochers" out of the lot and cuts down on people who have no business parking in the lot.