A group of over 100 obstetricians and gynecologists in British Columbia have joined forces to support their peers who recently resigned from Interior Health, citing frustrations with government policies.
The 128 OB/GYNs have issued a warning through a letter, highlighting concerns about the precarious state of maternity healthcare in the province. The backdrop to this collective action stems from the resignation of the entire OB/GYN department at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops earlier this month. While the health authority attributed the resignations to personal reasons, the recent letter reveals that the doctors left due to unaddressed issues regarding maternity care and gynecological services.
Expressing dismay over what they deem as dismissive responses from Interior Health and the government, the OB/GYNs stress the urgent nature of the crisis they have been trying to raise awareness about for months. They criticize the existing working conditions as untenable and unsafe, pointing out the lack of tangible efforts to address the problems.
Dr. Chelsea Elwood, Vice President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists BC and one of the letter’s authors, emphasized that the ongoing challenges have been escalating over the years without adequate intervention. The domino effect of these resignations has left pregnant women in the Kamloops region grappling with uncertainty and stress.
Elwood highlighted the need for sustainable solutions rather than reactive measures, pointing out the detrimental impact of temporary staffing solutions and the pressing need for long-term support for the OB/GYN workforce. The letter also drew attention to the severe backlog in gynecological cancer surgeries, underlining the extensive wait times that patients are currently facing.
Despite the provincial government’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, the OB/GYNs are calling for concrete actions to address the systemic issues plaguing maternity and gynecological care in British Columbia.
Keyphrase: Maternity Healthcare Crisis