Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK
May 27, 2019 - 12:03 PM
KAMLOOPS — Due to a shortage of trained maternity nurses, Interior Health Authority has temporarily suspended maternity services at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake for four days.
In a news release issued today, May 27, Interior Health officials are asking a “small number” of mothers with due dates anticipated between May 30 to June 3 to relocate and plan their deliveries in Kamloops at Royal Inland Hospital due to a lack of trained maternity nurses during the four-day period.
“Interior Health regrets the impacts this interruption to services will have on expectant mothers and families and continues to restore full maternity services in Williams Lake as quickly as possible,” Interior Health says in the release.
In-patient maternity services were suspended at the same hospital earlier this year due to an unexpected critical shortage of maternity nurses. Interior Health says they are confident full maternity services will resume in July.
So far, two maternity nurses were hired for the Williams Lake hospital in April, Interior Health says. Another nurse will start in June and five nurses are currently being trained in full-scope maternity care and are expected to be ready to support Cariboo area patients in July.
Interior Health says maternity nurses from inside and outside the health region are coming to Williams Lake to support local patients.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2019