Providence Health Care has decided to temporarily suspend amalgamation discussions with Glacier View Lodge until the board and society have concluded 鈥渋nternal discussions,鈥� Providence has said.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e going through a process of determining how they want to proceed,鈥� said Shaf Hussain, a spokesperson for Providence, which is a Catholic health care provider. 鈥淲e鈥檒l just wait for them to communicate after their internal processes are done what their final decision is regarding the go-forward amalgamation planning.鈥�

Calls to GVL executive director Michael Aikins were not returned.

Earlier this year, St. Joseph鈥檚 General Hospital announced a partnership with Providence Health Care and Glacier View Lodge. The latter is a local long-term care facility.

Like St. Joseph鈥檚, Providence prohibits medical assistance in dying (MAiD).

Island Health is in the process of examining bids for a 70-bed long-term care facility. Though unconfirmed, speculation suggests St. Joseph鈥檚 has submitted a bid.