Fundraising efforts are non-stop for the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation, as they look to outfit NRGH with updated medical equipment to improve patient outcomes. (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

big goals

Nanaimo Hospital Foundation has big goals for future fundraising efforts

Jan 25, 2025 | 6:32 AM

NANAIMO — Promises of major investments in local healthcare facilities has the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation staying extremely busy.

A successful winter campaign saw over $2.1 million raised, despite a postal strike disrupting some donations from arriving, and helped fund critical equipment for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s maternity ward, as well as cancer care and rehabilitation departments.

Barney Ellis-Perry, chief executive officer of the Foundation, told NanaimoNewsNOW six Giraffe Omnibed Incubators and other vital NICU equipment were funded.

“That was a direct request from [hospital] leadership because it was the highest rated, most important items that we need because they’re failing and there’s been a really high demand. We are where the helicopters come, from central and north Island, we have a lot of mothers coming here for that.”

Other money helped purchase a new laser device for prostate and urological cancer treatment, and additional rehabilitation equipment.

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Investments come months before a 12-bed high acuity unit (HAU) is due to open, complementing a recently opened intensive care unit at the hospital.

The Foundation fundraised for equipment in both facilities with the HAU totalling $5 million on its own.

Ellis-Perry knows bigger projects are still on the horizon.

“We know that we now have a political promise for a patient tower, we know hopefully in the next five years we’ll have to launch a big campaign to fundraise for that…we’re very pleased with the work that the Fair Care Alliance [has done], holding our politicians accountable to that promise.”

A cath lab for cardiac care was also committed to by the BC NDP during their ultimately successful election campaign, a facility which would address a dire need for improved cardiac care on central Vancouver Island.

Despite the current lack of a comprehensive facility, cardiac care has already been a focus for the Foundation.

“Through such things in over half a million dollars of equipment that we’ve purchased to support the cardiologists this year, to paying for training of the current nursing staff in cardiology to get them prepared for the new equipment and one day for a cath lab.”

The next short-term goal is a $2.9 million campaign to purchase a new SPECT/CT scanner.

It represents the most expensive single piece of equipment the Foundation has looked to purchase, but some leftover funds from the winter campaign have them off to a positive start.

The machine will look to reduce wait times for CT and other scans while increasing the opportunity for doctors to conduct much more detailed scans on cancer and cardiac patients in Nanaimo.

Ellis-Perry expects the device will be their major focus for the next six to 12 months.

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