New parents in the Kamloops region are being warned that if they had plans to give birth in Kamloops this summer, they may end up being sent elsewhere.

Interior Health says “gaps” in service have forced the authority to scale back intake through “the summer” at Royal Inland Hospital’s Maternity Ward.

Dr. Pete Bosma, Executive Medical Director for Interior Health’s northern region, says despite the scale-back of services, those who are going into labor should still go to the hospital if they don’t have a family doctor guiding their delivery.

“If they have no care provider, they will certainly be assessed and if they’re in imminent labor, they will be delivered and cared for with the resources that we have,” said Bosma.  “There will be some cases, if that that happens, that we may need to send out to another site.”

What’s not known is how long the curtailment of Maternity Ward services may last, with the Health Authority only able to cite “the summer” as the timeline.

Bosma says the shortage of obstetricians is not connected to the efforts underway to re-staff the Maternity Ward at Kelowna General Hospital, which is trying to emerge from its own shutdown of maternity services.

“We’re not seeing physicians moving between sites as such, we’re really facing a obstetrical care provider shortage nationally,” said Bosma.  “When I talk to colleagues in other provinces, they’re feeling the same pinch.”

The loss of maternity services at Royal Inland Hospital isn’t sitting well with the Chair of the Thompson Regional Hospital Board.

“We can have the biggest, nicest [hospital] tower in the province,” said Mike O’Reilly.   “But if we don’t have it servicing our residents properly, it doesn’t matter how nice the building is.”

O’Reilly, who was informed about the scale-back of services only 15 minutes before Interior Health made the revelation public on Thursday morning, says what frustrates him the most is the inability of Interior Health to provide a timeline for when full maternity services could be restored at Royal Inland.

“One thing that most expectant parents do not like is uncertainty. They try to do everything they can to plan for any scenarios. This really throws a complete curve ball and wrench into any plans.”

Interior Health — while not able to provide timelines — in a further statement to Radio NL does say it intends to try to keep the impacts minimal.

“Numbers of people impacted during this temporary maternity service interruption at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) may shift based on changes in coverage as Interior Health continues to work to fill gaps in the schedule and to identify locum coverage wherever possible to support expectant individuals,” said the Health Authority.

“RIH averages between three and four deliveries a day, which amounts to approximately 1,200 deliveries per year, managed through obstetricians, family physicians, and midwives,” the statement added.

Interior Health also says those who need to be transferred to a different facility will be taken care of.

“If out-of-community care is required, families will be informed and transportation and accommodation supports will be provided if needed,” stated the Health Authority.

It also notes that the delivery rooms will be available at Royal Inland Hospital to expectant parents who do arrive under the care of their own doctor.

“We recognize the significant impact any change in maternity services can have on expectant individuals and families,” said Interior Health.

“Our top priority is to provide high quality and safe care to patients and newborns,” it added.