File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Victor Kaisar

Staffing Challenges

RIH maternity ward scheduling gaps may send some expectant parents elsewhere for delivery: IH

Jul 24, 2025 | 8:57 AM

KAMLOOPS — Maternity services will be hampered at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) over the summer.

Starting Saturday (July 26), Interior Health said expectant parents without a regular family or maternal care doctor will still be assessed at RIH but they may be sent to elsewhere to deliver their babies if they require specialized care or if their care history is unknown.

“If out-of-community care is required, families will be informed and transportation and accommodation supports will be provided if needed,” Interior Health said, in a statement.

The health authority said individuals with a maternal care provider will continue to receive care through their provider and “in most cases” they will deliver their babies at RIH.

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“We recognize the significant impact any change in maternity services can have on expectant individuals and families,” Interior Health added. “Our top priority is to provide high quality and safe care to patients and newborns.”

Interior Health says the disruption to maternity services is due to potential scheduling gaps among maternity department physicians. At this time, it is not clear how long this interruption will last but the situation is expected to stabilize “sometime in August.”

Sources to CFJC Today say existing maternity department physicians at RIH are burnt out, and that Interior Health has been falling short in its recruitment efforts. There currently appears to be two lengthy spells – July 27 to Aug. 2 and Aug. 19 to Aug. 26 – where these shifts are unfilled.

The disruptions at RIH come not long after Interior Health announced the return of some pediatric services at Kelowna General Hospital. Some services like elective pediatric surgeries, diagnostic procedures that require sedation for children, and admitting patients to the pediatric unit during daytime hours began on July 13 after a seven week closure.

It also comes as Northern Health announced there would be gaps in obstetrics specialist coverage at the University Hospital of Northern BC in Prince George.

– With files from Aaron Schulze