This hospital Emergency Department is open 24/7 for life-threatening or serious health concerns. Patients are seen based on the urgency of their condition, not the order they arrive.
How to Get Care at This Hospital
If you or someone else is in danger or needs urgent medical help, call 9-1-1 right away.
You can also come directly to the Emergency Department. When you arrive, a nurse will check how urgent your condition is. The most serious cases are treated first.
Wait times can vary. If your condition is not an emergency, you may be encouraged to visit a same-day or urgent care clinic.
When to Come to This Hospital
Call 9-1-1 or go to the Emergency Department for:
Emergency Care
- Signs of a stroke (numbness, confusion, trouble speaking)
- Chest pain or signs of a heart attack
- Major injury or trauma
- Mental health crisis
- Head injury with loss of consciousness
- Pregnancy complications
- Feeling unwell and on dialysis
- Overdose or poisoning
- Sexual assault or rape
Medical Imaging at NRGH
Medical Laboratory at NRGH
Urgent Medical Assessment Clinic at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
Sign Up for a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner
If you don’t have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, you can register to be matched when one becomes available.
Visit: healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry
Services at this location
- Adult rehabilitation - outpatient program
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Rehabilitation Services are available at this location.
Referral required?
Yes.How to get a referral
A doctor's referral is required. Patients must meet the admission guidelines for each program.Contact Us
Outpatient Programs - Adult Rehabilitation
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
1200 Dufferin Crescent
Nanaimo, B.C.
V9S 2B7
250-755-7691 (local 57611) - Electrodiagnostics - heart health
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Electrodiagnostics provides inpatient and outpatient cardiovascular-related diagnostic testing, such as electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG), holter monitoring and exercise treadmill tests.
Referral required?
No.Contact Us
Use the general facility contact information listed below. - Heart function clinic - heart health
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Island Health’s Heart Function Clinics provide education, assessment, and medical management for people living with heart failure in our community. Our goal is to improve survival and quality of life for people living with heart failure as well as promote the patient’s ability to manage their disease.
Our team includes specialty heart failure cardiologists and nurse clinicians. Your care team might also include a pharmacist, physiotherapist, exercise specialist, social worker, and/or a psychiatrist.
We do this through:- medical assessment by a heart doctor and tests as required
- education and support
- exercise guidance as required
- referrals to other programs and services as required
- teach how to manage heart failure better at home
Why would I need a heart function clinic?
People are referred to the Heart Function Clinic because they have a condition called Heart Failure, which means their heart does not pump as well as it used to. This condition has many different causes.
What can I expect from a heart function clinic visit?
- discuss how to manage your heart failure and keep you as healthy as possible
- support you and your family in making changes in your life to improve your health such as increasing activity and exercise, and changing eating habits
- review your heart failure medications and treatments, adjusting them if needed
- arrange for various heart tests
- regularly update your family doctor on your condition
How do I prepare for my first appointment?
- arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your appointment time
- expect to be at the clinic for up to 2 hours
- bring all of your medications in their original packaging
- bring a support person
Can I review my test results before my appointment?
You can access your Island Health test results, certain documents, and some appointments via the MyHealth Patient Portal or by calling 1-844-844-2219.
Patient and caregiver support
Heart Life Foundation
Men's support group
Women's support group
Community Virtual Care for Heart FailureWhat do I need to know about heart failure medications?
Heart Failure Medications Guide
Managing the Cost of MedicationsHow can I start managing my condition at home?
- it is important that you know what to monitor and what to watch for. Please review some of these symptom management strategies
- heart failure zones - English, Arabic, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Filipino, French, Hindi, Punjabi, Spanish
- activity
- heart and stroke activity guidelines
- daily weights
- fluid restriction
- potassium in food
- sodium restriction
- balancing activity and rest
Additional resources
Cardiac Services BC
Heart & Stroke Canada
The Heart Hub
Heart Life FoundationVisit the Heart Health and Heart Diseases page to learn more about heart health, and download Living Well with Heart Failure.
Referral required?
Yes.How to get a referral
Living Well with Heart Failure People living with heart failure, and their support network, who reside on Vancouver Island or surrounding communities are eligible with a doctor's referral.
Contact Us
Nanaimo Heart Function Clinic
250-740-6989
Fax: 250-716-1852 - Pacemaker clinic - heart health
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Provides evaluation and ongoing follow-up for patients with implanted pacemakers and defibrillators to ensure each device is working properly and to monitor the life of the device.
Referral required?
No.Preparing for your visit
Contact Us
Nanaimo Clinic
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
250-739-5914 - Pain program
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About the Pain Program
The Regional Chronic Pain Program is a dynamic, multi-service outpatient clinic specialized in identifying pain sources and restoring function.
Our program aims to improve quality of life and function for individuals with persistent pain. This is achieved through working with our pain team, setting realistic and obtainable goals, and attending our educational classes. Island Health’s Pain Program requires a referral from a primary care provider. Practitioners may refer to the referral section below to download the applicable referral form.
Who We Are
The Pain Program’s interdisciplinary team is comprised of physicians, a psychologist, a psychiatrist, pharmacists, nursing staff, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social work, and clerical staff.
Based on individual needs, some people might see several members of our Pain Team, or only one or two.
To learn more about the pain program and available community resources, please review the Pain Program - Introductory Slideshow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Island Health Pain Program’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Royal Jubilee Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital
Chronic Pain Resources
For videos, links and information related to chronic pain management, please review our Chronic Pain Resources webpage.
Group Programs
If you are participating in our group programs, or you’d like to learn more about our interdisciplinary services, please review our Group Programs webpage.
General information about the Pain Program
Island Health’s Pain Program requires a referral from a primary care provider.
For Practitioners
Regional Interdisciplinary Referral (fillable)
Neuropathic Pain: Pharmacological Evidence-Based Treatment Algorithm
For more information, please refer to Pathways.
Preparing for Your VisitAdmission Process
To receive treatment at Island Health’s Chronic Pain Program, please contact your primary care provider for a referral.
We require a Health History Questionnaire to be completed. This will be sent to each patient prior to their first scheduled appointment.
Procedure Handouts
To help you prepare, recover, and develop a better understanding of our procedures, please review our available handouts below.
Additional Resources - Regional stroke program
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The Division of Neurology, in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and the B.C. Stroke Strategy, is working to establish a regional stroke program, centred out of the Victoria General Hospital. In addition, the Campbell River Regional Hospital has developed an outpatient stroke clinic that works with patients to prevent strokes and manage risk factors.
The goal of the program is to offer all residents of the Vancouver Island Health Authority with stroke symptoms the opportunity to receive the same level of care.
How it Works
The Acute Stroke Consultation Service is a telephone based consultation system where the Emergency physician from any Island Health hospital can connect to the Neurologist on call.
Neurologists are able to view the imaging and then consult via telephone, or in-person where possible, with the attending physician.
More complex cases may be treated at community hospitals and then transferred to the Victoria General Hospital, or they may be referred to Royal Jubilee Hospital for surgery on the major arteries to the brain.
Should you need rehabilitation, the Regional Stroke Program is also connected with inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services. Inpatient rehabilitation services are provided at the Victoria General Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Community services also help enhance reintegration of stroke survivors into the community.
General Information on Regional Stroke Program
Referral Required?
Yes.Contact Us
Neurosciences Regional Program
Victoria General Hospital
1 Hospital Way
Victoria, B.C.
V8Z 6R5
Fax: 250-727-4106 - Stroke rapid assessment unit
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The Stroke Rapid Assessment Units (SRAU) are located at the Victoria General Hospital and Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, as well as the North Island Stroke Prevention Clinic at the Campbell River Hospital providing rapid access to:
- Neurologists and internal medicine specialists with special interests in stroke
- Nurses with special training in stroke care
- imaging studies of the brain and blood vessels
This allows for timely assessment of patients who have suffered a minor stroke or TIA, which significantly reduces the number of first and recurrent strokes. It also allows for early identification of patients who are candidates for surgery on the major blood vessels to the brain, as well as prompt placement on medications for stroke prevention.
General Information on Stroke Rapid Assessment Unit
Referral Required?Yes.Preparing for Your VisitContact UsNanaimo: 250-740-6926
Victoria: 250-727-4056Hours of Operation
Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
1200 Dufferin Crescent
Nanaimo, B.C.
V9S 2B7
Monday to Sunday: Open 24 hours
Donor Milk Bank Collection: Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Donors must be pre-approved by BCW Milk Bank before donating please visit Donating Milk for more information.
All vehicles parked in hospital parking lots must pay or have a valid parking permit 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Parking can be purchased at pay stations or through the mobile app providers listed below. License plates are required to purchase parking.
Rates
Surface Lots Parking Pay Stations:
- $1.25 for each hour
- $10.00 for 24 hours
- $26.75 for a weekly permit
Pay stations accepts coins or credit card.
No debit or Visa branded debit cards are accepted.
No change is provided from pay stations.
Mobile App: HONK (Zone 371)
Download the HONK app to your Apple or Android mobile device.
PayByPhone (Location Number 55371)
Download the PayByPhone app to your Apple or Android mobile device.
Nanaimo Regional General Hospital Parking Map
Special Permits and Parking Exemptions:
For more parking information visit the Island Health Parking Services webpage.
Please note:
Island Health manages hospital parking lot parking only. The City of Nanaimo manages on-street parking. This information does not apply to City of Nanaimo on-street parking.
Public Wi-Fi Access
Free WiFi is available for patients and visitors at the Nanaimo Regional General Hospital. Select the wireless network “IslandHealthGuestWiFi” from your wireless device and follow the instructions to connect.
