Nanaimo Regional Hospital District: Planning for Our Region's Healthcare Needs

In lieu of the Mid Island – Pacific Rim forum scheduled for September 25 and canceled due to insufficient MLA candidate attendance; a questionnaire was sent to the MLA candidates inviting their written response to the questions that would have been asked at the forum.

Between August 12 and September 13, residents were invited to submit questions for their MLA candidates prior to the forum through an online Ideas board, email or social media. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a question. A selection of the submitted questions was made and the provided to the candidates in advance of the forums to offer them time to prepare their responses. The same questions have been included in the candidate questionnaire.

All candidates were invited to participate by completing the questionnaire by Thursday, October 10. The responses received can been seen in the All Candidates Forums folder in the Documents section or by clicking here.

Between September 25 and October 3, 2024, the RDN and NRHD co-hosted three all candidates forums for the Ladysmith - Oceanside, Nanaimo - Lantzville and Nanaimo - Gabriola electoral districts in advance of the October 19, 2024 provincial election. A fourth forum had been planned for the Mid Island - Pacific Rim electoral district but had to be cancelled due to insufficient MLA candidate attendance.

Between August 12 and September 13, residents were invited to submit questions for their MLA candidates prior to the forums through an online Ideas board, email or social media. Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit a question. A selection of the submitted questions was made and the provided to the candidates in advance of the forums to offer them time to prepare their responses.

Thank you to all residents who took the time to attended one or more of the forums in person. For those who may not have been able to attend in person click here to view the recordings of each event. The videos can also be viewed at youtube.com/@RDNanaimo. We invite you to share the link to the all candidates forum videos with your friends and family.

Mid Island – Pacific Rim Electoral District **Cancelled**

This forum was cancelled due to insufficient MLA candidate attendance.

Ladysmith - Oceanside Electoral District

MLA Candidates who participated:

• Stephanie Higginson - BC NDP
• Adam Walker - Independent

Nanaimo - Lantzville Electoral District

MLA Candidates who participated:

• George Anderson - BC NDP
• Gwen O'Mahony - BC Conservatives
• Lia Versaevel - BC Green Party

Nanaimo – Gabriola Electoral District

MLA Candidates who participated:

• Sheila Malcolmson - BC NDP
• Dale Parker - BC Conservatives
• Shirley Lambrecht - BC Green Party

On April 16, 2024 the B.C. Government announced approval of the business plan for the new Nanaimo Cancer Centre to be located at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). The concept plan for the facility had previously been approved in May 2023.

The new BC Cancer run three-storey centre will be built next to the ambulatory care building at NRGH. It will house a computed topography (CT) simulator, a PET/CT diagnostic scanner and an oncology ambulatory care unit with 12 exam rooms, four consultation rooms and space for medical physicists and radiation therapists. The lower level will contain four linear accelerator vaults, which are heavy concrete structures that contain radiation equipment used in the treatment of cancer patients.

Upgrades to NRGH have also been approved, such as a new single-storey addition to the ambulatory care building that will be home to a new community oncology network clinic and expanded pharmacy. The upgraded clinic will have 16 treatment bays, private consultation rooms, a medication room and support space. Cancer care delivered through the clinic will include oral and intravenous cancer treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy. The clinic also provides initial consultation and treatment planning with a medical oncologist, supportive care, follow-up care and patient education.

Construction is anticipated to begin in 2025 and conclude in 2028.

Long-term Care Facility Announcement
on October 19, 2023

On October 19, 2023 the Province of British Columbia announced that a new long-term care home will be built in Lantzville at 6910 and 6930 Lantzville Road. The new facility will bring a total of 306 long-term care beds to the region, including a 20-bed hospice unit and a 26-bed specialized population unit.

The new long-term care home will enable local seniors to move out of hospitals and unsuitable situations, allowing them to age with appropriate care and dignity in or near their home communities. It’s a critical component of the continuum of care for seniors and will ease pressure on hospital services and acute care beds at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH).

The project will be jointly funded by the Province through Island Health and by the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District. The NRHD has purchased the properties on behalf of Island Health for the purpose of building the long-term care facility. The facility will be built, owned and operated by Island Health.

Q: What features will be included in the new long-term care facility?

A: The new long-term care facility will provide the following:

• 306 long-term care beds, including a 20-bed hospice unit and a 26-bed specialized population unit.
• A three-story design composed of four main buildings, each containing six “households” that will include single bedrooms with ensuite washrooms.
• Residents will share social and recreational spaces such as a dining room, outdoor spaces and lounge areas.

Q: Why was the property in Lantzville chosen for the long-term care facility?

A: Island Health identified these properties through a comprehensive search for potential locations for the long-term care facility.

For more information about the long-term care facility project, view the FAQs- Lantzville Long-term Care Facility

To stay informed about project updates, click the subscribe button.

On May 26, 2023, the Province announced the approval of a concept plan for a new cancer centre at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH).

In addition to constructing a new cancer centre, hospital upgrades are also approved, which includes renovating and expanding the existing community oncology clinic at NRGH. This will increase the number of treatment spaces and exam rooms, and replace the current cancer outpatient pharmacy.

The new cancer centre is expected to offer radiation therapy, an outpatient ambulatory care unit and a net new PET/CT machine. Construction will also include a new radiation-treatment space with four shielded treatment rooms for high-energy radiation-treatment linear accelerators, which deliver high-energy X-rays or electrons to the region of a patient's tumour.

The cancer centre is a part of the Province’s 10-year B.C. cancer action plan, which outlines immediate steps to prevent, detect and treat cancers, delivering improved care for people facing cancer now while preparing for the growing needs of the future.

The project’s scope and budget will be determined in the business-planning phase, which is underway.

On March 23, 2023, the Province of British Columbia announced that the new 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) currently under construction at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) will be expanded to include a new 12-bed high acuity unit (HAU). The ICU is expected to be open for patients in June 2023 and the HAU has a targeted opening date of September 2024.

High Acuity Units are a standard of care in most major centres. They provide an intermediate level of care for patients with requirements between that of the general ward and the ICUs. Without this level of care, patients are managed in ICUs, thereby reducing ICU capacity, or they remain on general wards where it is difficult to meet their care requirements. The new HAU will provide NRGH staff with the dedicated space and specialized equipment they need to deliver this intermediate care.

More information can be found in the news release, by clicking this link.