The health minister of British Columbia plans to visit Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) as concerns grow about what many are calling a pediatric care emergency at the facility.
This decision follows a request from local BC Conservative MLAs Gavin Dew (Kelowna-Mission), Kristina Loewen (Kelowna Centre), and Macklin McCall (West Kelowna-Peachland), who urged the minister to visit earlier on Monday.
“It’s incredibly irresponsible that after all this time, Health Minister Josie Osborne hasn’t visited even once,” Dew stated.
“She has yet to visit Kelowna General Hospital.”
The group held a press conference outside KGH on Monday afternoon to discuss the continued closure of the pediatric ward, now in its fifth week. The 10-bed pediatric unit closed on May 26 due to challenges Interior Health (IH) is facing in maintaining sufficient pediatrician staff.
IH explained that the closure was a tough but necessary choice, made to ensure sufficient pediatrician availability for critical services like high-risk deliveries.
All three MLAs reported that they have received numerous messages from worried constituents.
“Our MLA office emails are buzzing,” Loewen remarked. “It’s non-stop; it’s the top issue at the moment.”
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Macklin noted he’s even received messages from individuals outside the Okanagan Valley.
“I have spoken to people who said this hospital serves patients from as far away as the East Kootenays,” Macklin mentioned.
“This is a significant hospital for British Columbia.”
When the opposition initially urged Osborne to visit KGH and meet with frontline staff last week, the minister responded that “making this a political issue is not helpful.”
At the news conference on Monday, Macklin retorted.
“The ministry’s response has simply been, ‘oh, that’s political.’ What does that imply? They don’t want to engage in this conversation,” Macklin questioned.
“We represent our constituents. Our duty is to the public, and it seems the NDP government may be losing sight of the fact that this is about the people, not political parties.”
Later on Monday, Osborne issued a statement confirming her upcoming visit to the hospital.
“I understand the concerns regarding Kelowna General Hospital and take them very seriously,” her statement read.
“It’s crucial to listen to frontline workers, including doctors, to foster safe and respectful work environments and enhance patient care. Since taking on the role of Health Minister, I’ve prioritized meeting with frontline personnel and I plan to visit Kelowna soon to meet with hospital staff throughout the area.”
Several physicians have indicated to Global News that they would appreciate a visit from Osborne.
Global News contacted the ministry on Monday for an update regarding a possible visit, but a representative responded, “Could you inform us about which groups of doctors are requesting the Minister to meet with them?”
Dew stated that the ministry ought to concentrate on addressing the crisis rather than identifying which doctors are interested in a meeting with the minister.
“It’s completely ludicrous for the ministry to prioritize tracking down the doctors who are voicing concerns instead of working on rebuilding trust and confidence with them,” Dew asserted.
Pediatricians have consistently called for revisions to the current staffing model, which often leaves only one pediatrician on duty at a time.
Feeling voiceless for years, many have left the hospital, contributing to the current crisis.
Interior Health mentioned last week that it aims to reopen the pediatric ward as soon as it’s safe and practical, though no specific timeline has been provided.
The health authority indicated that one pediatrician will begin working at the hospital this summer, with two more joining in September, which they believe will help move towards reopening the ward.
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