Victoria Plans New Cardiology Room Amid Growing Patient Waitlist

Island Health is developing plans for a dedicated room for pacemaker insertions in Victoria, aimed at addressing the increasing demand for cardiology services in the region. During a board meeting on December 3, 2023, Marko Peljhan, Island Health’s vice-president of acute clinical operations and provincial programs, discussed a proposed “cath lab procedure room” at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Although the room is not intended to serve as a full cath lab, it represents an important step in enhancing cardiology services in the area.

The specifics of the plan were highlighted in a draft report by KPMG, which has yet to be made public. Peljhan confirmed that the report includes considerations for expanding services in Victoria, particularly the establishment of a device room for pacemaker insertions. “We’re aware of that and we’re working through an approach to be able to fund that, but it actually is not formally approved,” he noted. He emphasized that this initiative is still in the conceptual phase.

Island Health aims to reduce the growing waitlist for pacemaker insertions by utilizing this room, which had previously operated as a device room when the diagnostic and treatment centre opened in 2001. Peljhan explained that reinstating this facility would not require construction costs, allowing for an efficient solution without affecting plans to expand cardiac services in other parts of the Island.

In a follow-up communication, Island Health clarified that while the room could hypothetically function as a cath lab, this is not the intended use. The health authority acknowledged the pressing need for expansion in cardiology services, including electrophysiology and catheterization procedures. “The report also notes services that need to expand immediately to reduce waitlists,” Island Health stated, reiterating that the current plan is not yet approved and that the existing device room would not incur new operational costs.

Funding for capital projects like a cardiac cath lab typically follows a shared model, with local hospital districts contributing approximately 40 percent of the costs, while the provincial government covers the remaining 60 percent. The Fair Care Alliance, a coalition of doctors, health advocates, and politicians, has recently highlighted the urgent need for a cardiac catheterization lab at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. In response to this pressing issue, the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District has volunteered to fund a business plan for the proposed lab, aiming to expedite the process.

During the December meeting, Peljhan acknowledged the substantial support from the regional hospital district regarding the potential establishment of a cardiac cath lab in the community. “There’s a lot of community support for it, and how we get there is going to be key,” he remarked. He noted that ongoing discussions with the health authority, physician leadership, and community stakeholders are essential to integrate this initiative into a broader master site campus plan, which could eventually involve expansions at the Nanaimo campus.

As the demand for cardiology services continues to rise, the developments in Victoria and Nanaimo illustrate the critical need for timely and effective healthcare solutions in the region. The ongoing efforts by Island Health and local stakeholders aim to enhance patient care and reduce wait times for essential cardiac procedures, thereby ensuring that residents receive the medical attention they need.