First Steps Clinic reassuring expectant families of care options after notice of changes at RIH

Since the notice about the hospital went out, Norman says the clinic wants to reassure the public about concerns around where maternity care is or isn’t available.

“Lots of concern, lots of anxiety around what’s going to happen with that and my fear is that people will hesitate to access care when they need it because perhaps they don’t think it’s going to be available to them here in Kamloops,” she says.

Nobody from the health authority was available for an interview on Friday (Aug. 8). However, Interior Health did state in an email to CFJC that so far “no expectant parents have needed to transfer due to maternity coverage gaps at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.”

“There’s a team of doctors, midwives, nurses, who are going to receive everybody who walks through the door no matter whether you have a family doctor or not. And you’re going to get care. You’re going to be assessed and whether you’re transferred out or not, that is based on medical risk and our local resources at the time,” reiterates Norman.

Ideally, the health authority wants to have the scheduling gaps filled by the end of August. In the meantime, First Steps says it is taking patients as usual, with no referral needed, up to 30 weeks along in their pregnancy.

“It’s an imperfect system right now but people are trying really hard to make sure everyone is taken care of,” adds Norman.

by Dylana Kneeshaw

First Steps Clinic reassuring expectant families of care options after notice of changes at RIH

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