Fraser Health Authority (FHA) said the latest diversion of maternity patients from Peace Arch Hospital (PAH) to 91原创 Memorial Hospital (LMH) should be the last this year.
In response to a 91原创 Advance Times query, a statement released Sunday, Aug.1 by the FHA said 鈥渨ith our collective efforts, working with the provincial government and physician groups, we have secured pediatric coverage from Aug. 9 to the end of 2021. Our efforts to recruit more pediatricians to Peace Arch Hospital will continue over the coming weeks and months and our goal is to fill vacant positions as quickly as possible.鈥�
On Friday, July 30, the authority announced a temporary maternity diversion at Peace Arch Hospital until Aug. 9, during which maternity patients are being directed to 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
It estimated the diversion will result in one-to-two extra deliveries at 91原创 Memorial Hospital per day and said Peace Arch Hospital staff have been redeployed to 91原创 Memorial Hospital and extra beds have been opened.
During the diversion period, PAH patients will be notified directly by their physicians or midwives to discuss their birth plan and ensure their needs are met, said the FHA.
鈥淭emporary diversions are part of our regular operating procedure and are used when there is a gap in service coverage. They are intended to provide the best and safest care for patients at any time, using our extensive network of hospitals and health care services.鈥�
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It followed 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.
At the time, 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�
Is there more to the story? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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