Local preference City council rejects changes to purchasing policy. PAGE 19 Life-long dream Country star Crystal Shawanda to play Port Theatre. PAGE B1 Round 6 Fighter Nick Hinchliffe gets rematch after controversial decision. PAGE 3
Real Estate Review INSIDE
WWW.DANMORRIS.CA 250-751-1223
1643 Creekside Dr. $249,900 Great Location & Childcare! Your Own Hot Tub & Sauna!
Everything you want in a townhouse & more! Don’t Just List Your Home! Market It With Dan!
THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2012
New unit eases NRGH congestion
www.nanaimobulletin.com
VOL. 23, NO. 155
FLOWERING FRAMEWORK
School sports seasons might be in jeopardy BY GREG SAKAKI THE NEWS BULLETIN
BY JENN McGARRIGLE THE NEWS BULLETIN
A new unit next to Nanaimo Regional General Hospital’s emergency department is reducing congestion in the ER and freeing up in-patient beds elsewhere in the hospital. The five-bed clinical decision unit, staffed by ER physicians, opened adjacent to the ER last November. Suzanne Fox, manager of the hospital’s emergency services, said the unit is for patients who need a little more treatment than emergency services can offer, but often only need to stay a short period of time. Previously, those patients would end up on a stretcher in the ER hallway, waiting to go into an inpatient bed. “Which means they may stay a bit longer than required,” said Fox. Patients considered for admission for the CDU include those with asthma, abdominal pain, back pain, or needing a blood transfusion or services to be set up in their homes. There is no physician assessing patients overnight in the in-patient tower, but in the CDU, an ER doctor assesses patients both overnight and more often. “We’re seeing many patients get discharged within that 12- to 48-hour period,” she said. “We’re freeing up the longer-stay beds in the tower. We have better flow of patients in the hospital because of it.” ◆ See ‘REVENUE’ ‘ /4
Each office independently owned and operated
“
We have better flow of patients in the hospital because of it.
CHRIS BUSH/THE NEWS BULLETIN
Trees with their branches bursting with blossoms lend their colours to a seasonal view over the waterfront at McGregor Park in downtown Nanaimo recently.
Track and field athletes might not reach the finish line this spring. They might not even get to the starting blocks. A vote last week by B.C. teachers means some school sports seasons have been cancelled and others are in jeopardy. This Saturday (April 28), Nanaimo’s Rotary Bowl stadium is booked for the North Island high school track and field championships. Campbell River Christian, a private school, has agreed to organize the meet. That team will be at the track that morning at 9 a.m. sharp. “And I’m not exactly sure what other schools will be there,” said Bob Saunders, coach of the Dover Bay Secondary School track and field team. “Everything’s changing on a daily basis. We’re on a roller coaster right now.” Between April 17-19, members of the B.C. Teachers’ Federation voted 73 per cent in favour of a resistance strategy against Bill 22, the province’s Education Improvement Act. It’s meant a withdrawal of participation in all volunteer activities. A clear majority of teachers made the decision, but it doesn’t necessarily sit well with a clear majority of coaches. “There are a lot of coaches who love teaching, but we love coaching as part of that, too…” said Dave Nelson, athletic director at Dover Bay. ◆ See ‘COACHES’ /5