Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Dylana Kneeshaw

KAMLOOPS PREGNANCY CARE

Another maternity care crunch leads some Kamloops patients to short-term workarounds

Feb 1, 2024 | 5:30 PM

KAMLOOPS — Maternity care across the country has been under strain in recent months, and in Kamloops, some patients have been wait-listed while trying to access the next stage of prenatal care as the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics Clinic (TRFO) and Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) are trying to fill gaps in maternity care capacity.

However, the current strain is not the same situation as when the clinic was in danger of closing last summer.

Lisa Zetes-Zanatta, Interior Health’s Executive Director of Clinical Operations for Kamloops, says the TRFO clinic operating out of RIH actually expanded capacity from 450 patients last year, to planning for 600 patients to come through the clinic this year.

“However, that has coincided, of course, with the retirement of a community physician who was delivering about 200 babies per year. That will be slowing down,” explains Zetes-Zanatta. “That leaves us, again, with a bit of a gap.”

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Interior Health says it is well aware of the capacity crunch at the hospital-based clinic, which serves Kamloops and surrounding communities in the area.

“We know that there is a delta of clients, about 15 a month, that exceed the capacity of TRFO to take,” explains Zetes-Zanatta.

One of those people includes a soon-to-be-parent who spoke with CFJC but did not wish to be identified. Her early pregnancy care provider sent in a referral to the TRFO clinic for later stage appointments, but text messages show it has been declined for the time being.

“I was surprised when they said that it was denied, and then also that they couldn’t follow me anymore,” she told CFJC.

In the meantime, she was assured requisitions for testing appointments would still be sent in and was told to go to the labour and delivery department at RIH if there was an emergency.

“Aren’t there supposed to be other appointments that I’m supposed to get checked for? I don’t know. And I’m assuming they don’t want us to be using labour and delivery as just a walk-in (clinic), and be like, ‘Hey, can you take a look?'”

This is the expectant mother’s first pregnancy and she describes the situation as ‘stressful.’ She’s hopeful the uncertainty will be resolved soon and a spot will become available for her at the TRFO.

“It was very reassuring to have somebody there,” she said of having in-person check ups during the early stage, “because I could hear things are good, I can hear the baby’s heartbeat, I know what’s going on and I can ask questions. (Now) I don’t know anything. It was very comforting.”

Where should expectant patients turn?

Referrals continue to be submitted to TRFO. However, should a referral be declined during this time, Interior Health says the Pathways Medical Care Directory is a good resource to use to contact other maternity providers. For under-20-week care, the First Steps Early Pregnancy Triage clinic is available, and for urgent needs, pregnant people under 20 weeks along can use the emergency room.

Past 20 weeks, pregnant people should go directly to labour and delivery at the hospital for emergent care.

Dr. Hussam (Sam) Azzam is Interior Health’s Medical Director of Maternity Care, and says IH is working with providers to make sure no one goes without crucial prenatal care. He notes using the emergency room and triaging at labour and delivery are not an ideal options, but he’s hopeful they will meet the immediate healthcare needs of the population until a permanent solution is in place.

“I cannot even imagine the stress — added stress that’s not really needed — for a patient or client who’s looking for care and they don’t know where to go,” said Azzam.

Speaking with CFJC Thursday afternoon (Feb. 1), Azzam explained the maternity care situation is not just a local problem. It will take a combination of short-, medium- and long-term solutions to fully address it, but he’s confident in the progress that has been made with plans.

“We also created certain contracts for locums to come in under short term to bridge the gap until we manage to negotiate even more permanent solutions, contracts for physicians to make it reasonable, and welcoming for new physicians.”

For now, short-term workarounds are what will have to do, until provider spots are filled to match current demand and the results of longer-term plans come through.

“TRFO continues to recruit as well,” notes Zetes-Zanatta. “We will continue to bring in anybody who is interested in this area of medicine through TRFO, or if they prefer to practice privately, we can work with them in that way.”

“I honestly see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s just, we need to hang on,” adds Dr. Azzam.