Thursday, February 18, 2016
arrowlakesnews.com • 250-265-3841 • $1.25 • PM40036531 Vol.95 • Issue 07 7 78195
50 0 1 6 1
SD 10 gets top honours
Council discussed preliminary budget
Falcons go all out
See page 3
See page 5
See page 6
Story on page 2 Harry Ellens, president of the Nakusp Rotary Club smiles as he gives Sheila Anderson a bouquet of flowers. Anderson is this year’s Rotary Citizen of the Year. She was nominated for the award because of her outstanding contributions to the village. Submitted photo
Renovation to Arrow Lakes Hospital emergency room on the horizon JILLIAN TRAINOR Arrow Lakes News
The emergency room at the Arrow Lakes Hospital might be getting some work done in the next few years. The hospital was built in 1975, and the emergency room hasn’t been upgraded since that time. “The West Kootenay Boundary Hospital Board (WKBHB) did a tour of all the facilities,” said Karen Hamling, mayor of Nakusp. “In 2014, we discussed the need for the emergency room upgrades at the Arrow Lakes Hospital.” Because of a lack of electrical outlets, electrical cords have had to be strung across the department.
“The board saw that, and there was a unanimous vote to ask the Interior Health Authority (IHA) to include the planning for the renovations in the 2015 budget, which they didn’t do, and the board was pretty upset with that,” said Hamling. At the last WKBHB board meeting in Jaunary, Hamling asked if the board would consider putting $100,000 from its reserves toward planning and the board agreed to do it. They offered this money to IHA to get the ball rolling. “It is important to note that we are in the planning phase at this time,” said Karl Hardt, commucations officer with IH East. “Once the initial planning is complete, we will have to look at more detailed design and funding approvals before actual construction can begin.” The scope and cost of improvements in Nakusp mean Ministry
of Health approval is required for the planning process and then the construction. Improvements to the emergency department will focus on creating a better space for patients and staff, improving the flow through the department, and improving privacy. IHA will also be looking at creating better space for physicians and visiting specialists to Nakusp. “It will be great, because it’s time that we had better access, better equipment, and better room space, that can help the physicians and nursing staff do their job in a more efficient way,” said Hamling. In addition, IHA is redesigning the old nursery area to make a better space for patients who come to the emergency department and need to stay there overnight for observation.
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AGAINST BULLYING. Join the movement, and help bring awareness of these issues that happen in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. Arrow Lakes News and Black Press are supporters of Pink Shirt Day. More information on Page 12.