Photo: Contributed

The one-month countdown to the Penticton Regional Hospital’s new tower opening is on.

On April 29, the new David E. Kampe Tower will open to patients. The South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation still has $1.2 million to raise of their goal of $20 million for medical equipment to furbish the expansion.

“We’ve received incredible support from throughout the community, now we just need a bit more so we can fund the equipment going into the soon-to-be renovated and expanded Emergency Department,” executive director Carey Bornn said.

After the tower opens, Phase Two will begin, which involves an Emergency Department upgrade.

“When that’s complete, Penticton will have one of most up-to-date hospitals in the province,” Bornn said. “What better way to celebrate this historical moment for our region’s healthcare than with a direct donation to PRH.”

A few room-naming opportunities in the new tower still remain for major donors, but no donation is too small to make a difference.

The six-storey tower has been under construction since 2016 and includes 84 new single-bed rooms, five new surgical operating rooms and new ambulatory care clinics.

Penticton businessman David Kampe has donated an additional $4.4 million for a permanent MRI and SPECT-CT nuclear medicine equipment, which were not part of the original project.

For more information on donating, click here.