A new grassroots movement is gaining momentum in Kamloops as community members rally to demand urgent improvements in maternity care at Royal Inland Hospital.
The Facebook page Maternity Matters Kamloops, launched just days ago, has quickly attracted nearly 600 followers, becoming a hub for families, healthcare advocates, and concerned residents united by one goal: ensuring safe and reliable maternity services in the Interior.
Kamloops City Councillor Katie Neustaeter, one of the group’s founders, says the page was created out of frustration and deep care for local families. “This is about standing up for the people of Kamloops and the Interior who deserve better healthcare, especially for something as critical as maternity care,” she explained in a recent interview. “We’ve seen years of calls for improvement ignored, and now we’re at a tipping point.”
The catalyst for the group’s formation is the recent resignation of all seven OB-GYN specialists at Royal Inland Hospital, citing unsafe working conditions and burnout. This development has left the community deeply concerned about the future of maternity services in the region.
“This didn’t happen overnight,” Neustaeter said. “These resignations are the result of years of systemic issues, broken promises, and a failure to address the needs of healthcare workers and patients alike. And now we’re in a place where women are telling me they’re rethinking whether they can have a baby in Kamloops.”
To amplify their message, Maternity Matters Kamloops is organizing a Rally for Change this Saturday from 1 to 2 p.m., directly across from Royal Inland Hospital.
“The rally is simple but powerful,” Neustaeter said. “Everyone is welcome—families, healthcare workers, community members. If you care about safe maternity care and the future of healthcare in Kamloops, we want you there.”
She emphasized that the movement isn’t politically partisan, nor is it meant to criticize healthcare workers. “We’re not healthcare professionals. We’re not blaming the OB-GYNs. We’re saying this system is broken, and the people in charge—Interior Health and the provincial government—need to fix it. It’s time to stop pretending this is acceptable.”
The group hopes the rally will send a clear message to Interior Health and the Ministry of Health that the public is watching and demanding accountability. “Interior Health knows we’re here—they’ve subscribed to our updates and viewed our social media. But we’re still waiting for real engagement, for real answers,” Neustaeter said.
Interest in the event is growing rapidly, with dozens already confirmed to attend and many more expressing support online. While Neustaeter is optimistic about turnout, she emphasizes that even a single voice standing up makes a difference.
“I would stand there by myself with a sign if I had to,” she said. “But I know I won’t be. People are angry, they’re scared, and they want to be heard. This rally is about showing that maternity care matters, and that we’re not going to let this slide under the rug.”
As the community prepares to gather in support of improved healthcare services, Maternity Matters Kamloops hopes their advocacy will inspire lasting change—not just for Kamloops, but for communities across the Interior.
“If we can’t agree that pregnant women and newborns deserve safe, reliable care, then we’ve lost our way,” Neustaeter said. “This is our moment to speak up—and we hope the people in power are listening.”
