A new 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is set to open at the end of June, providing greater access to care for patients.

“The new, expanded ICU brings health-care services closer to home for people in Nanaimo and surrounding areas,” said Adrian Dix, minister of Health. “We heard the needs of people in Nanaimo, and I’m proud that our government responded with a new ICU that provides both a technological upgrade and an expansion in size to provide better health-care services.”

The ICU includes larger single-patient rooms; ceiling-mounted service booms and overhead patient lifts; a medication room; and a family consult room. The ICU will be south of the current emergency department.

“We all want better health care for people, so we delivered on a new ICU that Nanaimo can count on,” said Sheila Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. “A new ICU for Nanaimo means more people can get vital, urgent health care.”

The current 10-bed ICU, built in 1970, is outdated in its space and functionality.

“It is fantastic to see construction complete on the new ICU. It will provide our care teams at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital with the space they need to deliver safe quality care. This new space is equipped to provide patients with specialized care, which will help save lives and support the critical care needs of the people we serve,” said Leah Hollins, board chair, Island Health.

Construction also continues on a new 12-bed high-acuity unit (HAU) at the hospital, which will provide patients with more acute care and closer monitoring than a general hospital ward, but requires fewer resources than an ICU.

The new HAU will replace the current, temporary eight-bed unit. If there is an influx of patients requiring ICU-level care, the new HAU will be equipped to support these patients and provide the same level of monitoring and care as the ICU. The HAU is slated to open in summer 2024.