Northern Health says the Department of Obstetrics at the University of Northern BC (UHNBC) in Prince George is experiencing a shortage of specialists.
Health officials say that starting in August, pregnant women that encounters complications during pregnancy and delivery may need to transfer to another healthcare facility to ensure the safety of them and the baby.
“Like many other centres throughout BC, we are experiencing a shortage of Royal College Obstetrical specialists that provide care and consultative services to high-risk pregnant individuals,” says the university.
It says this may lead to a reduction of these services, but a transfer to a different hospital would come at no cost to the patient.
According to the BC Conservative Party, UHNBC is the only large medical center for obstetrics in all of Northern BC.
In the past, pregnant women living in the Peace Region, who experience complications with their pregnancies, have had to travel to Prince George for care, but now, they might have to travel even further. The conservatives say patients with high-risk pregnancies from all over Northern BC might need to transfer to hospitals in Kamloops or Vancouver to receive the proper care.
The conservatives adds that Northern Health has been aware of this looming obstetrics crisis since January, and they have found no solutions.
“Rural British Columbians are being treated like second-class citizens,” says Rosalyn Bird, MLA for Prince George–Valemount.
Northern Health says the university is constantly working towards finding coverage for upcoming service gaps.
Pregnant individuals can access medical services at the Labour and Delivery Department at UHNBC 20 weeks into their pregnancy. Northern Health says the department will remain open 24/7 despite the shortage of specialists.