All the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation wants for Christmas is a new surgical suite for Nanaimo Regional General Hospital (NRGH). The catch? They need to raise $1 million.
The Hospital Foundation knows that is a lot to raise, but they have seen the community pull together for large hospital projects before.
Why is a new surgical suite on the wish list? Because, statistically, there are 30 to 40 people on the colonoscopy wait list that have colon cancer but have not yet been diagnosed.
Colon cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death, but it’s easy to prevent — when you catch it early. In other words, advanced screening is your best chance of preventing colon cancer.
The challenge?
The Endoscopy Department at NRGH only has two surgical suites yet serves residents from Ladysmith all the way to Bowser.
“There are approximately 3,500 patients waiting up to a year for their procedure,” says Rebecca Taylor, Director of Communications at the Hospital Foundation, “Currently, 15 to 20 procedures a day can be performed at NRGH but up 50 new patients get added to the wait list daily.”
Your neighbour. Your co-worker. Someone in your family could be waiting for a colonoscopy right now. Catching colon cancer early is your best chance for survival.
Early diagnosis can save lives
“During a colonoscopy, if the doctor finds pre-cancerous polyps, they can remove them before they turn into cancer. The sooner a person can get a colonoscopy, the sooner they can get their diagnosis and start treatment if cancer is found. Early detection is crucial for better health outcomes,” Taylor says.
Nanaimo urgently needs a new endoscopic surgical suite to reduce wait times.
Put a new endoscopic surgical suite under the tree this Christmas
The government of B.C. has committed to pay for the operation of an additional endoscopic surgical suite and the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation has committed to help build it.
“It’s definitely a partnership,” says Taylor.
With an extra surgical suite, the hospital will be able to reduce wait times and expand services. As Nanaimo’s population continues to grow, this new suite will significantly reduce wait times for patients in need of a colonoscopy or other endoscopic procedure.
Please donate today and help build a new surgical suite for our community.
