Fraser Health Authority is alerting soon-to-be parents about a temporary lack of obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) at Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows hospitals, which could lead to redirected maternity care known as “maternity diversions.”
During certain dates throughout the holiday season, expecting mothers who planned to deliver at the mentioned hospitals may be sent to alternate maternity facilities within the region.
Dr. Darren Lazare, the regional department head of obstetrics and gynecology, revealed that Peace Arch Hospital is currently operating with only half of the required OB/GYN staff.
“We ideally need six OB/GYNs, but currently only have three due to retirements and staff movements,” he explained.
Lazare expressed that while this situation was unanticipated, it mirrors a larger issue affecting healthcare facilities not just in the Lower Mainland but also across British Columbia and the country as a whole.
The shortage of healthcare professionals, including OB/GYNs, midwives, and nurses, is a widespread challenge, according to Lazare.
In a collective effort to highlight the severity of the shortage, 128 OB/GYNs from across British Columbia issued a warning letter in October, emphasizing the looming crisis in maternity healthcare. The gravity of the situation became starkly evident when the entire OB/GYN department at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops resigned.
The maternity diversion at Peace Arch began on December 7 and is expected to continue until December 10. The timing for Ridge Meadows Hospital’s diversion remains uncertain, with Lazare emphasizing that all schedules are subject to change. Fraser Health assures the public of updates as new information emerges.
To address the shortage, Fraser Health has hired one OB/GYN, set to commence work at Peace Arch Hospital in spring 2026. The health authority is actively engaged in recruiting additional OB/GYNs for both hospitals, utilizing recruitment platforms such as Health Match BC and targeted advertising in OB/GYN publications like Canadian and American journals to attract qualified candidates.