Commitment around cancer care and the cardiac cath lab here in Nanaimo continues
Premier Eby announces new tower for patients at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
Blandy, Curtis. Victoria Buzz. Published 27 Sept. 2024.
Fair Care Alliance wants 'more details' following Nanaimo hospital tower promise
Durling, Jessica. Nanaimo News Bulletin. Published 26 Sept. 2024.
Nanaimo hospital expansion not in budget, but still a priority, says B.C.
Durling, Jessica. Victoria News. Published 11 Mar. 2025.
‘Hugely disappointed:’ Nanaimo hospital cath lab, patient tower absent in B.C. budget
What is the Fair Care Alliance?
The Fair Care Alliance is a citizen-led advocacy group working to bring equitable, comprehensive healthcare to all patients on Vancouver Island.
Rooted in research, lived experience, and strong community partnerships, we’re focused on bringing life-saving infrastructure and services to NRGH — the only tertiary hospital serving the Central-North Island.
Learn where the Fair Care Alliance stands today in this updated Up Front interview, as Donna Hais returns to speak with Dean Thullner-Veljacic one year after their first conversation. →
What are the Critical Issues Facing Nanaimo Regional General Hospital?
As the tertiary hospital for the entire Central and North Island, this is the reality at NRGH:
Too Few Beds
Overcapacity is the norm, with the facility regularly treating more than 400 inpatients in a 346-bed hospital.
Understaffed
With only one on-call internist for over 400 patients, the hospital cannot provide the care Island residents need.
No Cath Lab
This is the only region in Canada, with a population over 400,000, that lacks a Cath lab. For comparison, Victoria has two
Unsafe Hospital
Too Few Cardiologists
Only two cardiologists are available, compared to 22 in Victoria.
The consequences are dire:
Overflowing ER
NRGH’s ER is one of the busiest on the island with risky wait times.
Failed Standards
Without a Cath Lab we cannot meet the Canadian standard of cardiac care of “door to needle in 90 minutes” for the majority of the region.
Fatal Outcomes
Patients with heart disease face significant challenges accessing necessary care, some resulting in fatal outcomes.
Earthquake Risk
In the 2010 review NRGH failed seismic testing. Download review here.
These challenges place every resident of Central and North Vancouver Island at risk, and the risk increases as our population grows and ages.
As someone who has personally dealt with heart problems, I cannot stress enough the urgency of addressing the critical lack of cardiac care in Central and North Island. Lives are at risk due to the absence of a Cath Lab, leaving patients vulnerable and families burdened with the financial strain.
Our Mission is to ensure that all people North of the Malahat have access to appropriate and comprehensive, tertiary healthcare in Nanaimo on the traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
What We're Fighting For:
A Full Service Hospital Tower
Establish a new patient tower at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) to function as both a diagnostic and treatment centre, and new programs necessary for a tertiary hospital. This includes increasing NRGH's total bed capacity to 600. The new patient tower would effectively address the various deficiencies present in our existing 1963 building, ensuring a safer and more efficient delivery of care.
A Cath Lab
Urgently implement a cardiac catheterization lab at NRGH to address the critical need for cardiac care in the region.