Recent Vancouver Island Health Authority open houses on the Oceanside Health Centre project last week were well attended and the response appeared positive.
“It looks like it will cut a lot of people from having to sit in the emergency room in Nanaimo,” said Rhonda Perron, an interested Parksville resident.
She said that while she hadn’t followed the details closely, it seemed like it would be a largely good thing and she didn’t believe it would be cost effective to build a complete hospital in Parksville or Qualicum Beach.
Sheila Cruikshank, director of the project and future facility, said they haven’t finalized any deals, but she confirmed the facility will have a pharmacy, lab and medical imaging services.
She said their preference is to have the existing providers of those services in District 69 relocate into the new facility and they would make an announcement when that is finalized.
“As long as the services provided are just as good or better that will be a good thing,” Perron said.
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