By David Wiwchar

E-mail sparks online outrage

Hospital ICU closed “until further notice”

Nov 20, 2025 | 9:49 AM

A so-called ‘temporary closure’ of West Coast General Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit sparked immediate outrage online.

Hospital staff posted an Island Health e-mail announcement that the 3-bed critical care unit will be closed as of today.

Retired ICU Chief Dr. Robbie O’Dwyer says staffing shortages have caused closures in the past.

“That has happened before,” he said. “The big issue they have usually is getting nurses to actually staff it. That kind of comes and goes. It’s probably just temporary.”

O’Dwyer says it’s not a cost-saving closure.

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“The pressure to keep it open from the public will be too great for them to shut it down permanently. They couldn’t do that,” he said. “Whatever money they’re saving by not hiring contract nurses they would use up with helicopters coming in and ambulances rushing down to Victoria.”

Critically ill patients should still go to West Coast General Hospital where they will be stabilized, assessed, and sent to the most appropriate hospital, most likely Nanaimo Regional General Hospital.

Dear Team,

Due to ongoing staffing challenges and limited critical care resources, the West Coast General Hospital (WCGH) Intensive Care Unit will be on diversion to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH) starting November 20th until further notice.

This decision has been made to ensure that patients requiring intensive care receive the highest quality and safest level of treatment in a fully resourced environment.

Workflow:

Patients presenting to the WCGH Emergency Department will continue to be assessed by the Emergency Room Physician (ERP).
If a patient requires admission to an Intensive Care Unit, they will be stabilized and transferred to NRGH for ongoing critical care management.
We recognize the impact this may have on patients, families, and staff, and we deeply appreciate everyone’s collaboration and commitment to ensuring seamless, patient-centered care during this time.

Additional information and communication will be provided by site and department leadership throughout this week as we navigate these changes. Please connect with your unit leaders with any questions you may have.

Thank you for your understanding and continued dedication to supporting our patients and community.

Warm regards,

Kelli Walsh (she/her), BScPN, RPN

Site Director, West Coast General Hospital

Island Health Authority