A team of obstetrician-gynecologists based in Kamloops has announced that they are currently unable to accept new patients seeking prenatal care.
Thompson Region Family Obstetrics (TRFO) has made the decision to turn away new patients in order to maintain adequate staffing levels at the city’s labor and delivery ward.
This situation is part of a larger pattern of staffing challenges within British Columbia’s maternity care system. Earlier this year, Interior Health had cautioned expecting families about potential disruptions in care at Royal Inland Hospital.
The dedicated doctors have stepped up to cover more shifts at the hospital to address the staffing shortage. While no patients have needed to be transferred to other facilities for care, the unfortunate consequence is that the community doctors are unable to take on new patients at this time.
Kamloops Center MLA Peter Milobar highlighted the significance of Royal Inland Hospital as a central hub for the region, noting that other nearby hospitals are also grappling with staffing deficits.
The ripple effects of this situation are felt beyond Kamloops, with potential impacts on areas like Kelowna and the Fraser Valley. Residents in Prince George have already been redirected to Kamloops for care, only to now face the news that new patients cannot be accommodated.
In response to the concerns raised by TRFO, the B.C. Ministry of Health and Interior Health are taking swift measures to address the staffing challenges. Efforts are underway to recruit and train more maternity care providers, with initiatives to facilitate the entry of healthcare professionals from the U.S. and other countries into the province.
The health authorities emphasize that individuals in urgent need of emergency care for labor or complications should still go to the hospital. However, non-emergency patients may have difficulty receiving care at this time.