Nanaimo health services disrupted as striking nurses picket outside NRGH

Island Health flags delays; ER remains open

Residents in Nanaimo are being warned to expect service disruptions across parts of the local health system as striking nurses established picket lines outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). Island Health updated its public service alerts for Monday, July 13, noting the facility’s emergency department remains open but that waits could be longer than usual.

The health authority says essential service levels remain in place despite job action. However, several appointments — including stroke and heart function clinics starting Monday — are being rescheduled. Island Health also cautions that non-urgent surgeries and procedures at the Central Island Surgical Centre, located one block from NRGH, may be affected as the job action continues.

BCNU cites retaliation concerns; picket duration unclear

The BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) said it strategically launched job action on Vancouver Island in response to what it describes as employer retaliation against nurses who had ceased non-nursing duties. BCNU president Adriane Gear said there have been complaints of employers threatening to report nurses to their regulatory college.

“We’re licensed professionals; we need a license.”

Gear added that while she did not have the specific number of complaints from NRGH, more than 2,300 such complaints have been filed across B.C. in recent weeks. She did not specify how long pickets would be maintained outside Nanaimo’s hospital or how long the Central Island Surgical Centre would be affected.

Patients advised to prepare for rescheduling

Island Health’s alert emphasizes continuity of emergency care but urges patients to monitor upcoming appointments. Based on current notifications, residents should anticipate the following near-term impacts:

• Emergency care: NRGH ER is open; expect longer wait times.
• Diagnostics/clinics: Stroke and heart function appointments beginning Monday are being rescheduled.
• Elective procedures: Non-urgent surgeries at Central Island Surgical Centre may be postponed or adjusted.
• Essential services: Required minimum staffing remains in effect under legislation.

Island Health directs patients to its service alerts page for the most current information about clinic status and procedure changes. The authority did not provide timelines for when normal operations would resume.

Workforce pressures and safety concerns

Gear said B.C.’s health system is grappling with 4,500–6,000 permanent nursing vacancies at any given time. She linked staffing shortages to growing workplace risks, stating that physical violence and psychological injuries are increasing among nurses. She said younger nurses are leaving the profession earlier, and that the system is also losing mid-career and near-retirement nurses who might otherwise remain if conditions improved.

According to Gear, the union’s escalation reflects frustration with the balance of workload and safety expectations. She maintained that nurses who decline duties not intrinsic to nursing should not face threats of regulatory complaints for participating in lawful job action. As she put it: “Something has to happen.”

Talks framework and what comes next

The BCNU and the Health Employers Association of BC are headed toward a non-binding mediation process. No specific dates were provided in relation to that step. In the meantime, Nanaimo-area patients may experience delays or rebookings as the work stoppage proceeds.

Residents with scheduled care are encouraged to check for updated instructions from Island Health and to arrive prepared for extended waits at the hospital. While the emergency department remains operational, the scale and duration of the disruption — including at the Central Island Surgical Centre — remain uncertain.

Key figures at a glance