File photo (image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

MATERNITY WARD

Interior Health says RIH maternity patients have all been treated in Kamloops

Jul 31, 2025 | 5:12 PM

KAMLOOPS — It’s been one week since Interior Health announced possible staffing challenges in the maternity ward of Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) in Kamloops.

Last Thursday (July 24), Interior Health stated 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. So far, that possibility has not come to pass.

“We are always facing ongoing challenges but we have not seen any large impacts. We have managed to make sure we have surgical coverage, surgical backup. No patients have been transported out,” said Dr. Pete Bosma, Executive Medical Director for Interior Health North. “It’s not been entirely business as usual but patients have been assessed and treated as planned.”

Interior Health says the disruption to maternity services is due to potential scheduling gaps among maternity department physicians. The hospital are hoping to return back to normal service levels later in August.

SOUND OFF

SOUND OFF: Springing forward, one last time

19h ago

Question of the Week

Are you going to try one of the new e-scooter or e-bike rentals around Kamloops?

Mar 09, 2026

1000 WAYS TO HEAL

1000 WAYS TO HEAL: Two Spirit People

Mar 09, 2026

“Our staffing challenge pinch really is coming down to lack of maternal care physicians,” said Bosma. “We have them in the community but they have been working a lot extra and they are tired and they are doing the best they can. We are still seeing a national shortage of maternal care providers, and summertime when we would want to see more locums, those locums are in short supply and they are wanting to take holidays as well, so the hits are challenges.”