The Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation is fundraising for a third colonoscopy surgical suite at NRGH, in efforts to cut wait times for those needing the procedure. (Nanaimo Hospital Foundation)

By Alex Rawnsley

NEW SURGICAL SUITE

Nanaimo Hospital Foundation nears fundraising goal for third surgical suite

Dec 29, 2019 | 9:40 AM

NANAIMO — A year of extensive fundraising for the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation is nearing completion.

The group set out to raise $1.75 million to fund construction of a new surgical suite at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. With 2020 rapidly approaching, the foundation is around $100,000 short.

A new surgical suite at NRGH will focus on colonoscopies, a procedure crucial to cancer detection and treatment, but faces long wait lists.

“We only have two surgical suites that perform colonoscopies,” Foundation CEO Janice Perrino told NanaimoNewsNOW. “Campbell River and Comox both have two, yet our population is four times the amount so we’re in desperate need for a third suite.”

She added there are approximately 3500 people on the wait list for a colonoscopy through NRGH.

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“Two per cent of that, 30-40 people have cancer in their body right now, we just can’t get to them,” Perrino said.

Construction is due to begin in January 2020, with an expected opening in the fall.

“The government pays for the operational costs but we have to do the building,” Perrino said. “Every gift of every level, it’s just gets us that much closer.”

Donations can be made by visiting the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation website, or calling 250 755 7690.

alex.rawnsley@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alexrawnsley