All seven obstetrician-gynecologists at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops, British Columbia, have made a collective decision to resign from their positions, causing concern among expecting parents about future care. The group cited safety issues stemming from a shifting workload and ongoing challenges in recruitment as reasons for their departure.
Expressing their concerns in a letter dated Saturday, doctors Hilary Baikie, Jennifer Kozic, Paula Lott, Erin Adams, Michael Hsiao, Rita Chuang, and Christine Sutton stated that with the impending loss of the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics group and the current state of obstetrics in their community, they see no viable path forward. Once replacements are secured, the ob-gyns will cease providing in-hospital services such as labor, delivery, and caesarean sections.
The physicians hope that the substantial reduction in obstetric services in Kamloops will prompt the Interior Health Authority to enhance support for women’s health. They plan to gradually phase out patient care, with several doctors intending to continue offering outpatient gynecology services. Each surgeon will inform their waitlisted surgical patients about future arrangements.
Warning that RIH’s closure is a result of systemic underfunding in women’s healthcare, the doctors cautioned that it may not be the last facility to face such challenges. Despite attempts to contact the physicians, they declined interviews when approached by CBC News.
Expectant mother Brianna Jones, a staff member at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops who is 20 weeks pregnant, expressed anxiety about her delivery following the resignations, particularly as an older mother. She emphasized the importance of a smooth process.
Interior Health President and CEO Sylvia Weir assured that the health authority, in collaboration with Perinatal Services B.C., will oversee the transition to maintain patient care. Weir acknowledged the doctors’ burnout concerns, emphasizing the ongoing difficulty in recruiting obstetricians both in British Columbia and nationwide.
B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne acknowledged the severity of the situation, attributing it to a shortage of healthcare professionals in specific areas like maternity services. She mentioned that Interior Health has identified over a dozen qualified candidates to strengthen ob-gyn services. The government is finalizing a new contract offering increased compensation to support workload, recruitment, and retention efforts. Additionally, the health ministry plans to expand training opportunities for obstetricians.
In contrast, B.C. Conservative MLA for Kamloops Centre, Peter Milobar, criticized the government’s inaction despite previous warnings about healthcare staffing shortages. Milobar urged the health minister to develop a comprehensive long-term plan for maternity care in Kamloops.