Seven OB/GYN Resignations Raise Concerns for B.C. Maternity Care

Seven obstetrician-gynecologists (OB/GYNs) at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, British Columbia, have resigned, prompting questions about the future of maternity care in the region. According to Dr. Mark Masterson, vice president in medicine at Interior Health (IH), patient care will not be affected in the immediate term. In an email to the Tribune, he stated, “Anyone who is pregnant and in labour should still go to the hospital as early as possible to be assessed, and emergency care for people in imminent labour or experiencing urgent complications will be available.”

The resignation of these specialists is part of a broader issue facing IH, which has experienced staffing shortages leading to periodic closures of emergency rooms at several facilities over the past few years. Notably, the pediatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital was closed for an extended period due to staffing challenges, only reopening in August.

Impact on Maternity Services

Despite these resignations, Karen Cooper, executive director of clinical operations for IH’s Thompson Cariboo Rural region, maintains that service interruptions at the Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Williams Lake remain infrequent. “We do expect the impact to be minimal here,” she stated, emphasizing that CMH continues to provide maternity services for expecting mothers across the Cariboo, including those from 100 Mile House.

Cooper explained that while family doctors primarily handle deliveries, OB/GYNs are available when specialized care is necessary, such as in cesarean sections. She noted that over the past four years, 90 percent of expecting mothers in the Cariboo have delivered at CMH. “It’s business as usual at Cariboo Memorial Hospital,” she reiterated.

Currently, CMH has three OB/GYN positions, one of which is filled full-time by a local specialist, with the other two filled by locums until permanent staff can be secured. Cooper expressed confidence in filling these roles, citing an increase in applications, including candidates from the United States.

Recruitment Efforts and Broader Concerns

In response to staffing challenges, Interior Health has implemented increased incentives for locum coverage and is working on a new contract model to attract OB/GYNs to Kamloops. The organization has also initiated a phased recruitment strategy aimed at enhancing maternity services by early 2026, along with investing in a comprehensive Maternity, Child, Neonatal, and Youth program.

Despite these reassurances, political leaders have voiced concerns regarding the implications of the OB/GYN resignations. Peter Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre, criticized the provincial government, stating, “This is what eight years of NDP mismanagement looks like.” He warned that without immediate action, Kamloops could face a significant loss of specialist women’s health services within months.

Similarly, Lorne Doerkson, MLA for Cariboo-Chilcotin, expressed worries about the reluctance of healthcare workers to join IH, particularly following the closure of a detox centre in Williams Lake due to worker shortages. Former IH employees have described their work environment as “hostile,” citing instances of racism, bullying, and inadequate support.

As of September, IH’s Thompson Region Family Obstetrics physician group has ceased accepting new referrals, redirecting expecting patients to their family doctors, nurse practitioners, or other support services. For those without a primary care provider, the First Step Early Pregnancy Clinic is available for antenatal care.

While patients are assured access to labour and delivery services at Royal Inland Hospital, there is an ongoing need for effective communication regarding transport and accommodation for mothers who may need to deliver outside their community.

Cooper indicated that IH plans to update the Williams Lake City Council on its recruitment efforts at a meeting scheduled for November 4. The B.C. Ministry of Health has not yet responded to inquiries regarding the impact of the OB/GYN resignations on women’s healthcare access in the Cariboo region.

With these developments, the community continues to monitor the situation closely, as the need for reliable maternity care remains a critical concern for families in the area.