Surgery wait times are expected to decrease thanks to Island Health’s acquisition of a medical facility in Nanaimo, says the B.C. Ministry of Health.
Island Health will assume and buy assets from Seafield Surgical Centre on Seafield Crescent in Nanaimo, the B.C. government said in a press release issued today, April 28.
The facility performs “low-complexity day care procedures such as plastic, general, orthopedics, urology, vascular, pediatric dental, endoscopy and cataract surgery requiring a hospital stay of less than 24 hours,” and currently performs an estimated 2,700 procedures annually, the press release said.
Surgical Centres Inc. owns Seafield Surgical Centre, as well as View Royal Surgical Centre in Victoria which Island Health is also taking on, and the authority and surgical service provider are working to finalize the deal, the press release said, with the transition taking place over the coming months.
In the press release, Adrian Dix, B.C. health minister said he was happy to add Seafield Surgical Centre into the public health-care system as it will increase capacity and lessen wait times for people requiring surgery. Leah Hollins, Island Health board chairperson, expressed similar sentiments.
“Surgical Centres Inc. have been a valued partner in helping us deliver surgical care and we are now excited to move forward with these sites under our direction,” Hollins said in the press release. “The addition of the View Royal and Seafield Surgical Centres will help us efficiently expand surgical capacity in a way that was not previously possible.”
The two groups have partnered since 2004, according to the press release, and Surgical Centres Inc. said it has established a solid foundation in Victoria and Nanaimo.
“We have been pleased to fulfil our mission to increase surgical access and reduce waiting times with Island Health … The health-care teams and legacies we’ve created at [both] facilities will serve Island Health for years to come,” Dr. Mohamed Nanji, Surgical Centres Inc.’s CEO said in the press release.
In all, people on the Island will benefit from an additional 2,300 surgeries and 2,300 endoscopies annually with the two surgical centres, the press release said.
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