Seven OB/GYNs at B.C. hospital resign, citing unsafe workloads, lack of support

All seven obstetrician-gynecologists have resigned from in-hospital care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, citing unsafe workloads, staff shortages and a lack of government support, according to a letter obtained by The Globe and Mail.

The letter, signed by the seven specialists and addressed to community health care providers, said many years of these challenges have made the situation untenable. The specialists submitted their resignations to Interior Health, the local health authority, which accepted, the letter said.

“It is fairly unprecedented for an entire group of physicians to depart, but with the state of obstetrics in our community and with the upcoming loss of the [Thompson Region Family Obstetrics] group, we see no viable way forward,” said the letter, which is dated Oct. 11. The physician group referenced, which operates the busiest maternity clinic in Kamloops, announced last month it would close to new referrals because their doctors were needed to provide critical labour and delivery services at the hospital.