White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital is facing another temporary closure of its maternity unit due to unexpected departures, marking the fourth such closure this year. The ward will shut down from 8 a.m. on Thursday and is scheduled to reopen on February 23 at the same time. Patients will be redirected to alternate health-care facilities during this period.
Unfortunately, this issue extends beyond a single hospital. Ridge Meadows Hospital has also experienced multiple closures of its maternity unit in recent months.
Dr. Adam Thompson, President of Doctors of BC, highlighted the ongoing challenges in the healthcare system, attributing the closures to a significant shortage of frontline health-care workers across British Columbia. The scarcity includes OBGYN providers, midwives, maternity nurses, and family physicians specializing in maternity care.
Thompson emphasized the urgent need for strategic planning to address the workforce shortage and prevent recurring closures. He stressed the importance of producing more physicians to meet the growing demands of an aging population and expanding healthcare needs.
To tackle these issues, Thompson proposed the establishment of a stakeholder committee to focus on recruitment, retention, and enhancing mobility of healthcare providers throughout the province. He also underscored the necessity of distributing healthcare resources evenly, especially to rural communities.
Patients impacted by service disruptions were encouraged by Thompson to seek care promptly, even if redirected to other facilities.
With ongoing concerns about healthcare challenges, Thompson urged immediate action to address critical issues such as specialist waitlist crises and workforce shortages.
Fraser Health Authority has taken steps to address the situation by recruiting new OBGYNs to the region, with one physician set to join Peace Arch Hospital in the upcoming spring.