More cardiac services for Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, but not a full clinic just yet.

The Thompson Hospital District has agreed to cover a portion of the price tag for the new 1.34 million dollar coronary care unit.

Chair Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says the RIH Foundation is covering $450,000, the Interior Health Authority, $500,000 and the Regional Hospital District, $355,000.

“Its a four bed unit. It will be on the seventh floor.”

Christian says its required.

“We definitely need it. I mean its a start. Ultimately we would like to see cardiac catheterization. But you know we have to take small steps and right now this is going to be a good ward to focus on cardiac care.”

A cath lab is an examination room in a hospital with diagnostic imaging equipment to visualize the arteries of the heart and treat any problems.

The IHA is expected to make a formal announcement in the next few days.

There’s also been another key step taken for the second phase of the 417 million dollar upgrade of Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

The Chair of the Thompson Hospital District, Kamloops Mayor Ken Christian says its an important financial development.

“We were successful in our application to the British Columbia Municipal Finance Authority for a loan of 128 million, 900 thousand dollars and that’s our share local area residents share of the new Patient Care Tower. We were able to get that secured at 3.2 per cent.”

Construction should begin this fall and be complete by 2022.