Doctors Call for New 600-Bed Tower and Heart Cath Lab at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

A group of doctors at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital are making a bold plea to the province for a new 600-bed tower to replace the outdated and overcrowded facility built in 1961. Dr. David Coupland, the radiologist and president of the medical staff association, expressed the urgent need for a new tower, citing the current hospital’s inability to meet modern standards and accommodate the high number of patients.

With the hospital consistently operating over capacity and lacking essential equipment, the doctors are also advocating for the creation of a heart catheterization lab in Nanaimo. Currently, patients in need of urgent cardiac care must travel to Victoria within a 90-minute window, a challenge for those living on the Mid-Island.

Dr. Neils Swartz, former head of internal medicine at NRGH, emphasized the importance of timely access to a cath lab for patients with heart conditions, stating that a local facility would not only benefit residents but also alleviate the strain on the Royal Jubilee Hospital in Victoria.

Despite recent investments in the hospital, including a new cancer center and ICU, the doctors believe more is needed to improve healthcare services in Nanaimo. They are committed to advocating for change until their demands are met.

The province and Island Health have yet to respond to the doctors’ calls for a new tower and a cath lab, but the medical staff remains determined to push for improvements to better serve the community.