Emergency measures enacted as Canada hospital faces pediatric crisis
BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA — Interior Health, the regional health authority in British Columbia, has fast-tracked a proposal to the B.C. Ministry of Health, requesting additional specialists and emergency support for Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), as physicians warn of unsafe conditions for patients and staff.
KGH is facing a deepening pediatric and maternity care crisis, which has forced the temporary closure of its pediatric unit and strained emergency services.
Pediatric unit closure, prompt emergency measures
In the meantime, children requiring hospitalization are being transferred to neighboring facilities in Penticton, Vernon, and Kamloops—seven patients have already been moved since the closure.
Susan Brown, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Interior Health, confirmed that emergency measures include deploying former pediatric nurses to the emergency room (ER) and creating a new 24/7 role to manage pediatric cases and coordinate transfers.
The pediatric unit closure has compounded pressure on KGH’s maternity ward, where obstetricians say they can no longer safely handle all high-risk deliveries and unattended labor cases. Nurses, now managing pediatric patients in an overburdened ER, warn that the department isn’t equipped for prolonged inpatient care.
“Nurses are now responsible for managing acutely ill pediatric patients in an already strained emergency department setting that is not designed for ongoing pediatric inpatient care,” said in a public letter by B.C. Nurses Union.
The B.C. Nurses Union called the situation “immediate and dangerous,” criticizing Interior Health’s six-week timeline as unrealistic given current strains.
Maternity and services stretched beyond capacity
To address staffing gaps, Interior Health has ramped up recruitment efforts, both domestically and internationally. Three new pediatricians and three associate physicians have been hired, with one starting in July.
Interior Health’s proposal to the province includes hiring a dedicated pediatric pharmacist and a neonatologist for newborns. Brown acknowledged that Kelowna’s rapid population growth has outpaced hospital resources, echoing concerns.
“Given that there’s a lot of shortage of human resources and healthcare across the board, we have stood up the recruitment services within Interior Health… It’s not only recruiting Canadian trained anymore, sometimes we’re going international,” Brown said, highlighting the urge for outsourcing physicians across the globe.
While recruitment efforts continue, physicians like Duyvewaardt stress that retention hinges on improving workplace conditions—not just filling vacancies.
She cites burnout and unsafe working conditions as key reasons why many of Kelowna’s 20 pediatricians avoid KGH, opting instead for clinics or other hospitals.
“We’re having a doctor shortage because [pediatricians] are worried about putting their moral and professional integrity at risk, as well as patient safety,” Duyvewaardt said.
