The demand to address the shortage of doctors at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) is escalating rapidly.
“There is pain and frustration over how long this has taken and the extent of the crisis,” stated Dr. Alysha MacKenzie-Feder, a pediatrician from Kelowna, B.C., who left the hospital in 2024.
A collective of over a dozen pediatricians released a public statement on Monday, saying, “We want to clarify some misinformation spreading about the situation.”
The group reports only four pediatricians and one specialist for newborns are currently at KGH when ideally there should be 12.
They have been trying to communicate their concerns to Interior Health (IH) for years, claiming they anticipated the pediatric ward closure and sought to avert it.
“These issues are longstanding, and we have raised our voices for years about the systemic challenges at KGH that have affected both staff and safety,” MacKenzie said. “We wanted it to be clear that this crisis was foreseeable.”
According to the pediatricians, seven of their colleagues departed from the hospital in 2023, with many still practicing in the Kelowna area.
They accuse Interior Health of misleading the public by attributing the crisis to a national physician shortage.
They argue that the crisis stems from poor management leading to an inadequately resourced pediatric program.
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“What is essential is a pediatric program with sufficient services that attracts and retains physicians, which requires supportive environments and a positive culture,” MacKenzie-Feder explained to Global News.
“We need leadership that is transparent, communicative, and responsive to the needs of those on the ground, hearing the required changes.”
A group of obstetricians has also reached out to the media to voice their concerns.
Their letter states, “Our community is experiencing a worsening crisis in obstetrical care as a direct result of over 15 years of neglect by the Interior Health Authority.”
They further assert, “Despite a rapidly increasing population, the IHA has repeatedly failed to prioritize, support, or invest in maternity, obstetrical, and neonatal services.”
The group pointed to the Central Okanagan Maternity Clinic (COMC) as evidence of this neglect.
Although IH launched the clinic at KGH in December 2023 to improve maternity care services, doctors report that it is now unable to accept new patients due to a lack of obstetricians.
The clinic was being run by doctors who also have their own practices and other obligations at the hospital, under the expectation that the health authority would attract more staff to help.
However, the letter points out that, “IHA has not made sufficient efforts to recruit new personnel.”
It adds, “The ramifications are severe and escalating: our community’s access to safe and comprehensive maternity and neonatal care is now endangered.”
Conservative MLA for Kelowna-Mission, Gavin Dew, spoke on Tuesday about the situation.
A reset in healthcare is essential, and it should begin with restoring the public’s trust.
“What we’re experiencing right now is a major communication strategy rather than a real solution,” Dew stated. “It seems like the Minister of Health and Interior Health are mainly trying to save their reputations instead of addressing the issues head-on. We need to prioritize honesty.”
In a message to Global News on Tuesday, IH mentioned, “We recognize the gravity of the situation and are dedicated to acting with transparency, urgency, and accountability.”
The statement further noted, “Interior Health is taking into account the concerns raised by pediatricians and maternity care providers. We are in regular contact with KGH doctors through daily calls and weekly meetings to ensure we listen, provide open updates, and collaborate on both immediate and long-term solutions.”
IH also reported that they have successfully brought on three new pediatricians, with one starting this summer.
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