Urgent Maternity Care Crisis in Northern B.C. Sparks Doctor Response
UPDATE: A critical shortage of obstetric and gynecological specialists in Prince George, B.C., has triggered an urgent response from local doctors at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. Amid this crisis, doctors are scrambling to fill unfilled shifts, fearing severe disruptions to maternity care starting in August 2023.
Dr. Kassandra Joss, the acting lead for the GP obstetrical group, revealed that Northern Health had been aware of these staffing issues since January. Despite multiple warnings, the health authority has not adequately addressed the looming challenges. Last week, a bulletin alerted patients that those with “high-risk pregnancies” might need to be transferred to other facilities to ensure proper care, which raises concerns about accessibility and costs.
Prince George serves as a vital referral hub for northern British Columbia, making this situation particularly alarming. “We can’t get women going into labor safely because we can’t start inductions knowing there’s a service interruption coming,” Joss stated, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. With approximately 50 patients due to give birth in August alone, the logistics of moving patients at the last minute could prove disastrous.
In an emergency meeting with Northern Health, Joss and her colleagues received no actionable solutions, leaving them to manage the patient load with limited resources. “It was a really awful place to be put in, particularly because this has been going on for months,” Joss expressed. At the meeting’s conclusion, the head of the obstetrics department volunteered to cover six 24-hour shifts, a remarkable commitment given the circumstances.
Despite the gratitude expressed by Northern Health, Joss remains disillusioned with the health authority’s response, which she describes as marked by “awkward silence” during meetings. She and her team are now exploring solutions to support families who may need to relocate for care, including the possibility of funding accommodations such as Airbnbs. However, there has been no commitment from Northern Health regarding this support.
B.C. Conservative MLA Brennan Day highlighted the financial burden on families, noting that accessing care can cost over $3,000 for those with complications. “No mother in Northern Health would choose this chaos. B.C. needs to do better,” he stated.
The stress of the situation weighs heavily on expecting families and healthcare providers alike. Joss described the emotional toll, stating, “The idea of having to kind of ship all of them out is awful. You put all this work in, and then you have to basically say, ‘Good luck. See you later.’”
As this urgent situation develops, both the community and healthcare professionals are calling for immediate action to ensure every mother and child receives the care they deserve. With Northern Health remaining tight-lipped on future support, the fate of maternity care in Northern B.C. hangs in the balance.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
