Service changes posted as pickets go up
Island Health is advising patients in Nanaimo to expect delays and shifting schedules as striking nurses set up picket lines outside Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). The health authority’s service alerts page lists multiple disruptions for Monday, July 13, with some adjustments potentially extending to future dates.
The emergency department at NRGH remains open, but Island Health cautions that wait times could be longer than usual. Essential-service staffing is being maintained under legislation during the job action. Among the most immediate impacts, stroke and heart function appointments starting Monday are being rescheduled. Non-urgent surgeries and procedures at the nearby Central Island Surgical Centre, located a block from the hospital, may also be affected.
Union says escalation aimed at employer pressure
BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU) president Adriane Gear said the decision to escalate job action on Vancouver Island was deliberate, citing what she described as employer retaliation against nurses at NRGH for refusing non-nursing duties.
“That was designed to have an impact on the employer, and what many employers have done is they have turned that on nurses, and they have threatened to make complaints to our regulatory college,” Gear said. “We’re licensed professionals; we need a license.”
Gear said more than 2,300 complaints have been filed provincewide by nurses alleging harassment linked to lawful job action. She did not provide a Nanaimo-specific figure. It is not clear how long picketing will continue outside the hospital or how long the surgical centre’s non-urgent cases could face postponements.
Staffing strain, safety concerns cited
The union points to persistent vacancy pressures of 4,500 to 6,000 nursing positions across British Columbia at any given time. Gear said physical violence and psychological injuries among nurses are increasing, contributing to attrition among early-career staff as well as those approaching retirement.
“We have nurses that are nearing or at retirement age, that if the conditions of work were better, they would stay. We’re losing them. We’re losing mid-career nurses, and so something has to happen.”
A non-binding mediation process between the Health Employers Association of BC and the BCNU is expected, though no timeline for a resolution was given in the information provided.
What Nanaimo patients should know
- Emergency care: NRGH emergency department is open; expect longer waits.
- Appointments: Stroke and heart function clinic bookings beginning Monday are being rescheduled.
- Surgeries: Non-urgent procedures at Central Island Surgical Centre may be delayed.
- Essential services: Legally mandated staffing levels remain in effect.
Island Health directs the public to its service alerts webpage for the latest updates. Patients with scheduled care are advised to monitor their phone and email for direct notifications regarding any changes.
At-a-glance: current status
| Service | Status in Nanaimo |
|---|---|
| NRGH Emergency Department | Open; longer wait times possible |
| Stroke & Heart Function Clinics | Rescheduling appointments beginning Monday |
| Central Island Surgical Centre | Some non-urgent procedures may be affected |
| Essential Services | Maintained under legislation |
For residents who rely on outpatient diagnostics, routine follow-ups, or planned day surgeries, the disruptions may complicate care plans in the short term. With picket lines up and mediation pending, the duration of the impact in Nanaimo remains uncertain.
Island Health has not provided additional detail on when normal operations could resume. The union maintains its escalation is intended to address safety, workload and retention issues it says are undermining the province’s nursing workforce, including at NRGH.
