New High Acuity Unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

The Government of British Columbia announced the completion of the new High Acuity Unit (HAU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH).

High Acuity Units are a standard of care in most major centres. They provide an intermediate level of care for patients whose needs fall between those of general wards and Intensive Care Units (ICUs). Without this level of care, patients are either managed in ICUs—thereby reducing ICU capacity—or remain on general wards, where it is difficult to meet their care requirements. The new HAU will provide NRGH staff with dedicated space and specialized equipment to deliver this intermediate level of care.

In the event of an incident resulting in an influx of patients requiring ICU-level care, the new HAU is equipped to support these patients and provide the same level of monitoring and care as the ICU.

The HAU is the first of the five NRHD priority projects to be completed. The NRHD Board is pleased to have partnered with the Province to help fund the new unit. The HAU is scheduled to open on Thursday, August 28, 2025.

Learn More:

To read the Government of BC's announcement, visit: Nanaimo hospital opens new unit for patients with complex high-care needs

Photo credit: Ian Holmes, Nanaimo News Now