Kamloops is bracing for a significant loss in local maternity services after all seven obstetrician-gynecologists at Royal Inland Hospital submitted their resignations from in-hospital privileges, citing safety concerns, overwhelming workloads, and ongoing recruitment challenges.

The resignations—detailed in a letter dated October 11—leave the city’s hospital, a regional acute care hub, without its entire OB-GYN team. The move has sparked a wave of concern from health officials, local politicians, and business leaders alike, who warn of far-reaching consequences for families, healthcare access, and Kamloops’ economic stability.

Interior Health: Services Still Open, Changes “Over Time”

Interior Health Vice-President of Medicine, Dr. Mark Masterson, confirmed the resignations but emphasized that Royal Inland Hospital remains operational and efforts are underway to ensure continuity of care. “The key message people need to hear right now is that Royal Inland Hospital remains open, and we are working extraordinarily hard to ensure that the hospital is able to provide care for the patients of the region now and in the long term,” said Masterson.

He added that while many of the departing physicians plan to continue outpatient gynecology work locally, the specific details have yet to be determined.

Deputy Mayor: A Devastating Blow for Families

Kamloops Deputy Mayor for October, Nancy Bepple, says the situation is devastating for people looking to start or grow their families—and for the city’s long-term stability. “It’s really distressing to know that we’ve lost that service in Kamloops,” said Bepple. “Around 800 Kamloops residents give birth here each year—not counting people from surrounding communities. This is a major shortfall.”

She warned that losing maternity services may also harm the city’s ability to attract and retain skilled workers. “Thinking that a young family who wanted to have children might not be able to get the care they need here—that would be a concern for any employer trying to recruit talent,” she added.

Bepple noted that this is not a challenge the City can solve alone, even as it explores municipal-level healthcare supports, such as a city-run clinic for unattached patients. Interior Health has said it will look to bring in temporary locums, especially given that maternity services already went into “diversion” status during the summer for patients without a family doctor—a group that makes up nearly half of Kamloops residents.

Opposition MLAs: “Collapse of Women’s Health Care”

Local MLAs Peter Milobar and Ward Stamer blamed the provincial government for what they call years of inaction. “Doctors have been sounding the alarm for years, and this government has turned a blind eye,” said Milobar, MLA for Kamloops Centre. “Specialists are walking away because they no longer feel supported or safe.”

Health Critic Dr. Anna Kindy warned the resignations are part of a wider trend of system breakdowns across B.C. “We are witnessing the collapse of women’s obstetrical and gynecological care. Every woman in British Columbia deserves safe, equitable access to care close to home,” she said.

Chamber of Commerce: Healthcare Access Now a Business Issue

The Kamloops & District Chamber of Commerce also weighed in this week, linking the healthcare crisis directly to economic concerns. “These challenges go beyond healthcare—they’re business issues too,” said Executive Director Acacia Pangilinan. “When employees have to travel outside the region for care, businesses lose productivity and face staffing shortages.”

Pangilinan called for urgent investment in core infrastructure, including a full-service regional cancer centre, a long-promised cardiac catheterization lab, and sustainable maternity and family care. “The health of our residents and the health of our economy are directly linked,” she added. “Equitable healthcare access is essential to building a region where people want to live, work, and invest.”

Next Steps Unclear

While Interior Health says it will work to stabilize services in the short term, it has not yet released a long-term plan for replacing the OB-GYN team or preventing further erosion of care. As community leaders continue to sound the alarm, residents are left wondering whether Kamloops will be able to continue delivering babies locally—or whether more families will soon need to travel to Kelowna or even Vancouver for essential maternity care.