Dr. Nathan Schneidereit, Colorectal & General Surgery & Kim Racette, RN, Endoscopy Department, NRGH

RN’s Robyn Zuccaro & Judy Mana prepare one of the procedural suites, Endoscopy Department, NRGH

Help Raise $1.5 million to Reduce Colonoscopy Wait Times!

There are over 3,500 patients currently waiting up to 12 months for a colonoscopy at NRGH.

Increasing access to colonoscopies and providing care closer to home are key BC Government priorities. To accomplish increased access, the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation is partnering with Island Health, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District and the Government of British Columbia.

As part of this partnership, the Hospital Foundation is raising $1.5 million for a new procedural suite for the Endoscopy Department at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital which will be used predominately for colonoscopies. The project also includes preparation rooms and all the required medical equipment.

This project is urgently needed for our community as colonoscopies are used to diagnose serious illnesses including Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Diverticulitis and Colon Cancer.

In fact, one in every six of us will be diagnosed with Colon Cancer in our lifetime.

With the new suite, colonoscopy wait times will be significantly reduced. Up to 6,750 procedures will be performed per year when the suite is operational, an increase of 35% over current numbers. Colonoscopies make up 80% of all procedures and can be lifesaving.

Of the 3,500 waiting for a colonoscopy, at least 35 of the patients on the wait list will have undiagnosed colon cancer. With any illness, early detection saves lives. The sooner a patient can get a colonoscopy, the earlier their diagnosis and treatment. Every additional colonoscopy that can be done is vital because we are all patients.

Please donate today and help provide our community with quicker access to the best healthcare possible.