The Town of Princeton, in a 50/50 partnership with Area H, will lease a furnished residence for visiting locum doctors as part of keeping the Emergency Room staffed 24/7. The monthly cost of the residence is $2,200, all inclusive.
In announcing the deal to keep the ER open, Deputy Mayor Jason Earle stated at the July 16 Town Council meeting, Council is ‘incredibly pleased’ with the efforts of local volunteers
in pursuing the matter of keeping the ER fully operating. Referring to leasing a residence for locum physicians, Council Marilyn Harkness commented, “Other rural communities have done this - Nakusp, Sechelt, Gibsons.”
Councillor Kim Maynard remarked, "The community has spoken, this is their top priority.”
He added he is pleased to have Regional District ‘on board’.
In a related health matter, the Okanagan-Similkameen Health Board asked Princeton to give a letter of support for the construction of the tower planned for Penticton Regional Hospital.
The tower would include training facilities for physicians in the hopes that some of the new physicians would choose to stay in the Interior if trained in the area. Construction of the tower, which was to have begun next year, has been set back a further three years.
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