Nanaimo Hospital Emergency Room To Double In Size

 New ER To Be Complete 2012

Premier Gordon Campbell and Parksville-Qualicum MLA Ron Cantelon officially kicked off construction for the new $36.9-million emergency department at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) today.

“This new, larger and state-of-the-art facility will provide top-quality care to patients not just here in Nanaimo, but from across the Central Island,” said Premier Gordon Campbell. “The region will benefit from this investment in health care for decades to come, and I want to thank everyone involved for helping to get this new project underway.”

The provincial share of emergency department is $19.7 million with the remaining funding coming from other sources, including $13.2 million from the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District and $4 million from the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation.

 

When complete in 2012, NRGH’s new emergency department will have increased in size from 963 square metres (10,365 square feet) to 2,286 square metres (24,606 square feet). The facility will include a new psychiatric emergency service and psychiatric intensive care unit.

Other features that will improve patient care include dedicated stretcher bays, a dedicated x-ray room, natural light in all patient and staff areas and better infection control – thanks to isolation rooms and decontamination space.

The space is designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification as part of the Province’s commitment to a greener and more sustainable future.

“This expansion will more than double the size of the emergency department and will increase treatment rooms from 24 to 41, which will provide spacious and appropriate patient and treatment space. It will also provide a better working environment for our emergency department physicians and staff,” said Jac Kreut, chair of the VIHA board of directors.

“The design group has done an excellent job bringing together this much-needed expansion for our ED with innovative technologies and green building features. We are very pleased to be a partner in something that will be so very beneficial to our region,” said Joe Stanhope, chair, Regional Hospital District of Nanaimo.

“The foundation is focused on raising $4 million for the purchase of emergency department equipment, but we are also enthusiastic about creating awareness of the economic and social benefit of such an important project,” said Leslie Sundby, chair of the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation board. “Donor generosity for this project is already apparent and we are eager to help provide health care to the Central Island.”