British Columbia

Penticton residents ramp up demands for hospital upgrade

Penticton residents held a rally today, demanding that the province commit to upgrading their aging regional hospital.

Residents and doctors want a $300M ambulatory care centre

The Penticton Regional Hospital was built in 1951 to serve a population of 10,000 people and now serves a population of 90,000. (Courtesy David Paisley)

Dozens of people gathered in downtown Penticton on Wednesday, demanding that the province commit to upgrading their aging regional hospital.

Doctors say the hospital is overcrowded and have called for a $300 million ambulatory care centre for the 62-year-old building.

Penticton Coun. Wes Hopkin says while the Interior Health Authority has made Penticton's hospital upgrades a priority, the province keeps passing the hospital over.

Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent upgrading hospitals in neighbouring Kamloops, Kelowna and Vernon, but Penticton Regional Hospital has only had minor improvements.

With files from CBC reporter Bob Keating