The former Nanaimo hospital foundation CEO is now chairperson of the Nanaimo Regional Hospital District board.
Nanaimo councillor and regional director Janice Perrino has been acclaimed chairperson for the hospital district board for a one-year term, exchanging roles with new vice-chairperson Coun. Ian Thorpe.
The regional hospital district is an taxpayer-funded entity which serves to provide capital funding for regional health care facilities including equipment, land and facilities. Its funding is acquired through annual minor capital grants, major capital project support as well as municipal tax levies from Nanaimo, Lantzville, Parksville and Qualicum Beach.
"Our advocacy efforts have helped lay a stronger foundation for better health care in our region, but much is still to be done," said Perrino in a press release, adding that she looks forward to working with regional partners and fellow board members.
Perrino previously served as CEO of the Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation for six years before retiring 2022. She also served as vice-chairperson of the regional hospital district.
"Following Premier David Eby’s fall 2024 election promise to build a new patient tower and cardiac catheterization lab at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, we are asking the government of British Columbia to commit to a plan and timeline for moving these critical projects forward," Perrino said in the release.
Thorpe said in the release that he was proud to support Perrino as they channel efforts to continue improving health-care services for local communities.
“I’m proud of the significant projects approved in our region, such as the high-acuity unit at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital which will be operational this year," he said. "We are committed to carrying this momentum for as long as it takes to see the remaining projects built.”
The release noted that in 2022, the organization identified five priority capital projects and progress has been made on each of them. These include a high-acuity unit, a Nanaimo cancer centre, a long-term care facility in Lantzville which is in the design phase, and election promises around a cardiac cath lab and patient tower.
"The NRHD is grateful to the province for its significant commitment to improved health-care infrastructure and services in Nanaimo and urges the province to create a plan and timeline for these remaining two priority projects," the release noted. "The NRHD has put in place a financial strategy to support its contribution to these critical projects and is ready to work with the province in partnership to move these projects forward."
