Premier Eby commits to building a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital

In fall 2024, Premier Eby promised to build a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). The Nanaimo Regional Hospital District is grateful to the BC Government for these commitments.

A new patient tower at NRGH will include modern patient rooms, new surgical spaces, labs, and administrative areas. It will also support more specialized programs (e.g., oncology and radiology) providing a better environment for both patients and healthcare professionals.

The new cardiac catheterization lab will improve the timely diagnosis of heart-related issues. This facility will reduce the need for patients from Central and North Island to travel to Victoria or Vancouver for heart procedures, potentially preventing further surgeries or poor health outcomes.

The NRHD has a robust long-term financial strategy and has taken steps to support our financial contribution for these capital projects through a regional tax increase, and we are prepared to borrow the difference. With our financial commitment in place, we are ready to work with Island Health and the Province to advance these initiatives by finding innovative solutions to see these projects move forward. The NRHD Board has sent a letter to Josie Osborne, Minister of Health, and Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure, urging the BC Government to commit to a timeline for building these facilities.