Vernon Jubilee Hospital overcrowded: B.C. Nurses Union

The B.C. Nurses Union is speaking out over cramped conditions at Vernon Jubilee Hospital (VJH).

It says chronic overcrowding is putting immense pressure on front line workers and making life very unpleasant for patients.

Nurses say at one point last week, 192 patients were admitted into the hospital, which only has enough room for 148.

Hospital administrator Pat Furey says the patient surge is due in large part to an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness at local residential homes.

Still, she admits the Vernon Jubilee Hospital is over-capacity on a near daily basis.

But she says the hospital is taking some steps to mediate the short term pain.

Furey says VJH has added overflow units, recently opened up an eight bed medical stay unit and added extra staff in the emergency room.

Nurses, however, say more government funding is needed.

Interior Health believes the new hospital care tower will alleviate the pressure in the long-term.