COMOX VALLEY, B.C. – It’s been a busy first year of operation for the Comox Valley campus of the North Island Hospital.
The hospital has transitioned into the role of providing acute-care services in the community, supporting roughly 5,700 hospital admissions, more than 28,000 Emergency Department visits and nearly 500 births.
“The opening of this hospital was an important milestone for people in the community,” said provincial health minister Adrian Dix. “I congratulate the dedicated care teams who have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to meet local expectations for quality, culturally-safe, accessible public health-care.”
The new hospital officially opened on October 1, 2017, three weeks after a co-campus opened in Campbell River.
The Comox Valley campus assumed responsibility for acute care from the former St. Joseph’s General Hospital, which provided those services to the community for more than a century.
“This hospital is very important to everyone in the Comox Valley,” said Ronna-Rae Leonard, Courtenay-Comox MLA. “I thank all of the staff, doctors, nurses and volunteers who have worked so hard to make this a great state-of-the-art health care centre for all of us who live in this community.”
As of today, it is anticipated staff, physicians and volunteers at the Comox campus have supported:
- 5,700 patient admissions (not including newborns),
- More than 28,000 visits to the Emergency Department,
- 490 births,
- 6,100 surgeries,
- 3,800 MRI exams, and
- more than 10,000 CT exams
“Without our dedicated staff, physicians, volunteers and patient partners a hospital is just a building,” said Leah Hollins, chair of the Island Health Board. “Everyone who has been part of the first year of operation deserves congratulations for their exceptional effort and commitment to their colleagues, patients and community.”
“A year ago our dream became a reality,” said Comox Strathcona Regional Hospital District Chair Charlie Cornfield.
“Opening these new state-of-the-art facilities in our communities has provided top notch care to so many. Thank you to the staff, physicians, volunteers and community for making the last year a huge success.”
In September, an additional 17 beds were opened on the fourth floor as part of an initiative to strengthen senior’s care in the Comox Valley. Over the short and medium term, these beds will be used to support patients waiting to transition home or to a community-based complex care facility.
“Coming to hospital isn’t always an easy thing, and everyone who works and volunteers here is absolutely committed to ensuring that every patient has the best possible care and experience,” said Dermot Kelly, Island Health Executive Director for the Comox Valley, Strathcona and North Island region. “It’s really humbling to see that even after a year, the spirit of community and cooperation that fueled the move into the new hospital is still going strong.”
