People in Nanaimo and area will have greater access to care as a new 12-bed intensive care unit (ICU) at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital opens for patients on Wednesday, June 28, 2023.
"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."
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.
BACKGROUNDER
What people are saying about the new Nanaimo ICU
Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan -
"It's fantastic to see the new ICU completion, which is triple the size of the original ICU. The region of Nanaimo is experiencing a lot of growth right now and this new space will deliver quality, critical care for generations to come."
Adam Walker, MLA for Parksville-Qualicum -
"It's important that people in Nanaimo and the surrounding areas get access to critical care when they need it. This new ICU will help people in their most vulnerable moments get quality care, and I'm grateful to see the unit open for the community."
Leah Hollins, chair, Island Health -
"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."
Ian Thorpe, chair, Nanaimo Regional Hospital District -
"The Nanaimo Regional Hospital District is pleased the new intensive care unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital is ready to take patients. This modern, well-equipped ICU will enable the hospital's highly skilled and dedicated medical team to better respond to our region's critical care needs. We are proud to be a funding partner of this essential investment in health care that will serve central and north Island residents for years to come."
Barney Ellis-Perry, chief executive officer, Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation -
"The Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation is awed and humbled by the unprecedented showing of support from the central Island community who rose to the challenge and donated over $5 million to equip the new ICU. We know this investment will positively impact health outcomes in the region, and help to retain and recruit top medical staff talent to the region."
In 2021, there were 7,910 Indigenous people living in Nanaimo, making up 8.2 per cent of the population. In comparison BC’s Indigenous population represented 5.9 per cent and Canada 5.0 per cent of total population. The majority of the Indigenous population reported a single Indigenous identity, either First Nations, Métis or Inuk (Inuit). Of the Indigenous population in Nanaimo, 54.9 per cent (or 4,345) were First Nations people, 39.4 per cent (or 3,120) were Métis, and 0.8 per cent (or 65) were Inuit. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2023, children (aged 0-14) comprised 14 per cent of Nanaimo's total population. By 2033, this segment is projected to increase by 8.1 per cent, adding 1,190 children. However, as a proportion of the total population, the children category is expected to decline by 2 per cent over the next decade. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
Population growth rates are influenced by two primary factors: natural increase (births minus deaths) and migration. In the Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) in 2022, there were 1,122 births and 2,228 deaths, resulting in a negative natural growth rate that has persisted for decades. As a result, population growth in the region has been primarily driven by migration. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
The working-age population (aged 15-64) constituted 62 per cent (66,846) of Nanaimo's population in 2023. This segment is projected to increase by 22.5 per cent (+15,032) by 2033, to represent 63 per cent of the total population. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
Individuals aged 65 and older represented 24 per cent of the total population in 2023 and are expected to grow by an additional 6,239 persons by 2033, reaching 23.8 per cent of the total population. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
The largest growth over the next decade is projected in the 25-44 age category (early working years), with an increase of 9,452 persons. The second-largest growth category is the 65+ category, with an increase of 6,239 persons. Nanaimo's average and median age was younger in the 2021 Census compared to the 2016 Census, indicating a trend towards a younger population. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
Visible minorities make up 10 per cent of Nanaimo's total population, indicating increasing diversity in the region as the overall population expands. As of 2023, Nanaimo's visible minority population is estimated at 10,675 individuals. The three largest minority groups in Nanaimo are Chinese, South Asian, and Filipino, comprising 3.1 per cent, 2.4 per cent, and 0.9 per cent of the total population, respectively. It is projected that the total visible minority population will grow by 16 per cent by 2028, with the largest increases expected from Chinese migrants (596), followed by South Asian (309) and Filipino (246). Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2023, the City of Nanaimo had 6,457 licensed businesses. The largest number of business licences are held by the construction sector, followed by retail and the “professional, scientific and technical services” sector. The number of total business licences increased by 10 per cent over the last decade. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
Home-based businesses account for 38 per cent of total business licences issued in the City of Nanaimo. 67 per cent of Nanaimo’s businesses are locally owned and operated. 3.0 per cent of Nanaimo businesses are franchise operations and 9.49 per cent are branch offices of larger companies headquartered elsewhere. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2022, the City of Nanaimo was home to 3,610 businesses with one or more employees, indicating a consistent growth trend in the overall number of businesses with employees over time. Over the past decade, the number of businesses with employees has increased by 17.4 per cent. Additionally, in the past five years, sole proprietorships have seen a notable increase of 9 per cent in Nanaimo. You can download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2023, Nanaimo's labour force consisted of 68,400 individuals, showing a growth rate of 3.3 per cent, surpassing the 2.2 per cent growth rate in BC and the 1.8 per cent growth rate on the Vancouver Island Coast. BC is projected to have 1,017,000 job openings between 2022 and 2032, with nearly 80 per cent of these positions requiring some level of post-secondary education or training. You can download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2023, Nanaimo's labour force consisted of 68,400 individuals, showing a growth rate of 3.3 per cent, surpassing the 2.2 per cent growth rate in BC and the 1.8 per cent growth rate on the Vancouver Island Coast. BC is projected to have 1,017,000 job openings between 2022 and 2032, with nearly 80 per cent of these positions requiring some level of post-secondary education or training. Download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2023, the occupation with the highest number of job postings was for "retail salespersons," followed by cooks and "retail and wholesale trade managers." Across sectors, the highest number of job openings in 2023 were in the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector, followed by Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services. You can download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2022, overall student enrollment at Vancouver Island University (VIU) remained largely unchanged compared to 2021. However, there were notable shifts within the student body demographics: domestic student enrollment decreased by 1.6 per cent, while international student enrollment saw a notable increase of 9.4 per cent. You can download the full State of the Economy report HERE
In 2023, the estimated median household income in the City of Nanaimo is $81,606, marking a significant 19.8 per cent increase over the past five years. By 2028, Nanaimo's median household income is projected to reach $94,387, reflecting a growth of 15.7 per cent. In comparison, BC's median household income was $93,585 in 2023 and is anticipated to grow by 15 per cent over the next five years. You can download the full State of the Economy report HERE
On average in 2023, Nanaimo households spent 8 per cent more on shelter, 4 per cent more on food, and 3 per cent more on Household Furnishings and Equipment compared to the national average. Conversely, they spent 19 per cent less on transportation costs and 18 per cent less on personal insurance payments and pension compared to the national average. You can download the full State of the Economy report HERE