91原创

For the second time in a month, maternity cases are being diverted from Peace Arch Hospital (PAH) to 91原创 Memorial Hospital (LMH).

Starting July 30, 2021 for about 10 days, Peace Arch will be diverting all of their maternity patients to 91原创 Hospital.

The decision follows a previous July 2 announcement by the health authority sending maternity patients to LMH instead of PAH from July 8-19 for labour and delivery services.

READ ALSO: Peace Arch Hospital to divert maternity patients to 91原创 Memorial

At the time, the measure was said to be 鈥渋n response to a temporary gap in pediatrician coverage.鈥�

Dr. Michael Smith, the health authority鈥檚 regional medical director of child and youth programs, explained the gap was because PAH doesn鈥檛 have a pediatric unit, which makes it hard to attract pediatricians to work there.

鈥淧eace Arch suffers, really, by being a very small hospital,鈥� Smith commented.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a challenge to recruit pediatricians to work where鈥� they don鈥檛 have the sort of broad professional work that many other hospitals have. Most pediatricians like to be busy and they do newborn work, but they also like to do, as we鈥檙e all trained to do, pediatric work.鈥�

READ ALSO: Peace Arch Hospital maternity diversion 鈥榥ot ideal鈥� for couple awaiting birth of first child

In 2014, LMH opened the $11.66 million Vandekerkhove Family Maternity Centre and clinic in a newly-built third storey.

Among other things, it includes seven new single maternity care rooms, so new mothers can stay in one room for a continuum of care.

There is also a new isolation room.

READ ALSO: New maternity unit and clinic opens at 91原创 Memorial Hospital

It takes its name from the Vandekerkhove family, who contributed $1 million to the campaign.

The 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation was instrumental in raising more than $4 million from their 鈥淚t All Starts Here鈥� maternity expansion campaign.

Fraser Health committed more than $6 million to the new unit.