Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is already over capacity and canB次元官网网址檛 handle the anticipated population growth in the coming decades, warns a new advocacy group.
Donna Hais, community liaison for NRGHB次元官网网址檚 medical staff, presented to Nanaimo city council on Monday, April 8, speaking about the new Fair Care Alliance group.
B次元官网网址淲hen you watch the news and you see photos of patients in beds in hallways, in storage closets B次元官网网址� thatB次元官网网址檚 us. Go to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital any day of the week and thatB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 happening,B次元官网网址� Hais told councillors.
B次元官网网址淚f weB次元官网网址檙e the fifth-fastest growing centre in Canada, can you imagine what that means for our population? ThatB次元官网网址檚 not a 40-per cent increase here, thatB次元官网网址檚 more like a 50- to 55-per cent increase in population to central and north Vancouver Island. We are in no way prepared for that.B次元官网网址�
The Fair Care Alliance is a new community advocacy group for health care, advocating on issues for residents north of the Malahat.
HaisB次元官网网址檚 presentation served as the introduction to a recently developed campaign, which involves to the province, demanding a new patient tower and a commitment for a cardiac catheterization lab.
B次元官网网址淭he conversation on getting a tower starting today is still 10 years before weB次元官网网址檇 see it,B次元官网网址� Hais told council. B次元官网网址淏ut a cath lab, we know, and we know this very specifically by [an] announcement weB次元官网网址檝e seen in Surrey B次元官网网址� we can have this in 18 to 24 months.B次元官网网址�
In question period at the B.C. legislature on Thursday, April 11, Health Minister Adrian Dix wouldnB次元官网网址檛 give a commitment to funding either a catheterization lab or patient tower for Nanaimo, following a question from independent Parksville-Qualicum MLA Adam Walker.
B次元官网网址淲hy does the minister of health continue to refuse to listen to Island Health, and when will the NDP commit to funding the desperately needed patient tower at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital?B次元官网网址� Walker asked.
B次元官网网址淲e are engaging, and the member knows this, in unprecedented investments in Nanaimo,B次元官网网址� Dix responded, adding that the province has delivered B次元官网网址渉undreds of new long-term care bedsB次元官网网址� and are in the process of funding a cancer centre. B次元官网网址淲e are going to continue to invest in Nanaimo and support Nanaimo patients.B次元官网网址�
Walker then asked about a catheterization lab, but didnB次元官网网址檛 get a commitment from Dix on when, or if, the province will fund it.
While the news of a cancer centre, first announced in 2023, was applauded by Hais in her presentation to council, she said itB次元官网网址檚 not enough to solve the dire cancer care situation for northern and central Island residents.
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She drew attention to the fact that there are no oncologists at the Nanaimo hospital compared to 40 oncologists in Victoria. For comparison, in 2023 there were 3,360 new cancer diagnoses in the central and north compared to 3,215 in the south. Fifty-three per cent of the IslandB次元官网网址檚 cancer cases occur north of Malahat. Nanaimo currently has four general practitioners in oncology.
B次元官网网址淲e have the largest population B次元官网网址� I told you weB次元官网网址檙e 460,000 people B次元官网网址� in Canada without access to a cath lab,B次元官网网址� Hais said. B次元官网网址淲e live in this area, this beautiful part of the world, in Canada, but we live below the standard of care when it comes to cardiac care.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Ian Thorpe, who is chairperson of the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District, thanked Hais and reiterated the hospital districtB次元官网网址檚 commitment to funding their 40 per cent portion of the build.
B次元官网网址淲e need public advocacy on this. We need the community to have its voice heard so the government, whichever party is in power, hears Nanaimo needs and deserves better health care in our region north of the Malahat,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t is absolutely scary, and unfortunately most people donB次元官网网址檛 have that realization until an incident happens.B次元官网网址�
Coun. Janice Perrino added that B次元官网网址渘o-one needs it more than Nanaimo does right nowB次元官网网址� and encouraged every doctor to advocate B次元官网网址渂ecause they really, really listen to the nurses, the medical staff and the doctors.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 turn and there is an election coming and IB次元官网网址檒l be voting for the particular government that wishes to give us a new hospital expansion,B次元官网网址� she said.
In a statement from Island Health to the B次元官网网址 Bulletin on how itB次元官网网址檚 navigating the capacity issue, the health authority said it is important to note that it has well-established processes in place to support transfers in a timely manner when patients need out-of-community specialized care.
B次元官网网址淚sland Health understands the pressures all hospitals, including NRGH, are facing. We know it is important that we continue to invest in NRGH, and in community-based supports that take pressure off our acute care system.B次元官网网址�
