Uncertainty during Kelowna pediatric ward closure
As Kelowna General Hospital enters its fifth-week without a dedicated pediatric unit, local politicians want the minister to meet with health-care workers.
The closure of the pediatric unit in Kelowna General Hospital was said to last six weeks when Interior Health made the announcement on May 21. But as that deadline nears, there is less clarity as to if that deadline will be met.
Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, is losing hope.
'My confidence in the Minister of Health is diminishing by the day,' he said.
Health Minister Josie Osborne was not available for an interview Monday, but the ministry sent CTV News a statement from Interior Health CEO Susan Brown, which said 'the goal is to reopen the inpatient pediatric unit as soon as it is safe and feasible,' without providing an exact date.
'The inability of the minister to communicate a clear timeline is emblematic of the lack of a clear plan, lack of a clear approach and the lack of clear leadership,' said Dew.
Emergency physician Dr. Jeffrey Eppler says the focus shouldn't be the politics.
'This is about children; it's not about politics. It existed long before the NDP took government,' he said.
Castanet reported that last Thursday, a three-year-old Kelowna boy who broke his arm couldn't receive surgery at KGH due to the closure. Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton were unable to take him, so it wasn't until 10 a.m. the next morning when the boy was taken via plane to Vancouver for proper treatment at BC Children's Hospital.
'The uncertainty that every family in Kelowna and the broader catchment area of Interior Health is dealing with- we don't know if the medical system we're paying for that we rely on will be there when we need,' said Dew.
A town hall is being planned for July 2 to discuss the health care crisis. The Health Minister has been invited to the event – but whether or not she'll be there is still unclear.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
Why doctors say pregnant people should be extra careful during a heatwave
Social Sharing With extreme heat and humidity creating dangerous conditions across the Greater Toronto Area, doctors are warning pregnant people about the serious health risks heat waves pose to them. When temperatures soar above 30 C for several days, pregnant people are especially vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, says Dr. Tali Bogler, chair of family medicine obstetrics at Saint Michael's Hospital. "We do have studies that have shown that there is certainly risk for the pregnancy and for both mom and baby," she told CBC Toronto. Environment Canada says this summer's first heat wave is expected to create daytime highs of 33 to 36 C into Tuesday night, with humidex values of 42 to 46. Bogler says that kind of heat can impact someone who's expecting, no matter what stage of pregnancy they're in. During the first trimester of pregnancy, there is some limited evidence that shows prolonged heat exposure can result in congenital birth defects, she said, such as neural tube or heart defects. In the second trimester, extreme heat can create issues around hypertension and gestational diabetes, and in the final trimester, it could result in a low birth weight, preterm delivery or stillbirths, Bogler said. WATCH | More sweltering temperatures in store for Toronto, climatologist says: What you need to know about the heat wave headed for Toronto 4 days ago Duration 4:02 "The other piece is for people to be on the lookout if you're pregnant for symptoms of mild to moderate heat-related illness," she said. If you get heat rash or feel unwell, get somewhere cool, but if you're experiencing more severe symptoms such as vomiting or feeling faint, then that should be treated as an emergency, Bogler said. For pregnant people, staying hydrated means drinking about three litres of water a day or more, says Dr. Cynthia Maxwell, a maternal fetal medicine specialist at Mount Sinai Hospital. "Because you're losing a lot of the moisture through the skin, and then of course, the requirements for the baby and for the circulation to the baby requires constant replenishment," she said. Take precautions, experts says Mom-to-be Julia Lee in Toronto is 23 weeks pregnant, and says she's been careful about how much time she spends outside. "I've been really feeling it. I feel like summer came a little late, and then it kind of just hit us like a truck." Because the heat wave is so intense and the risks so severe, it's important to take every precaution, says Dr. Modupe Tunde-Byass, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Toronto. "Please stay indoors as much as possible. This is not the time to go [out] for exercise or extreme running," Tunde-Byass said. "Stay hydrated, drink water [and] go to cooling centres, if you don't have an air conditioner." Climate change worsening conditions, study finds From 2020 to 2024, Toronto had 15 days of extreme heat risk for pregnant people, according to a recent study by non-profit Climate Central. Its analysis found that of those days, half were added by climate change, says Andrew Pershing, the organization's chief program officer. "Heat is only going to grow as a problem for us as we continue to burn coal, oil and natural gas and pollute the atmosphere with carbon dioxide," he said. Pershing says he hopes the report can remind people of the realities of what's at stake when it comes to climate change. "The longer we wait to act, the harder the problem gets to solve, and we've already waited a long time," he said. "This is about keeping people safe."
CBC
an hour ago
- CBC
2SLGBTQ+ sexual & reproductive health survey launches Canada-wide
If you are out and about at Pride events this summer, you have an opportunity to get your voice heard. A non-profit organization, The Community Based Research Centre, has launched a Canada-wide survey called Our Bodies, Our Health. The centre says there is a dangerous gap in government data on sexual and reproductive health in the 2SLGBTQ+ community. Nathan Lachowsky is the CBRC's research director.
CTV News
7 hours ago
- CTV News
Uncertainty during Kelowna pediatric ward closure
As Kelowna General Hospital enters its fifth-week without a dedicated pediatric unit, local politicians want the minister to meet with health-care workers. The closure of the pediatric unit in Kelowna General Hospital was said to last six weeks when Interior Health made the announcement on May 21. But as that deadline nears, there is less clarity as to if that deadline will be met. Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, is losing hope. 'My confidence in the Minister of Health is diminishing by the day,' he said. Health Minister Josie Osborne was not available for an interview Monday, but the ministry sent CTV News a statement from Interior Health CEO Susan Brown, which said 'the goal is to reopen the inpatient pediatric unit as soon as it is safe and feasible,' without providing an exact date. 'The inability of the minister to communicate a clear timeline is emblematic of the lack of a clear plan, lack of a clear approach and the lack of clear leadership,' said Dew. Emergency physician Dr. Jeffrey Eppler says the focus shouldn't be the politics. 'This is about children; it's not about politics. It existed long before the NDP took government,' he said. Castanet reported that last Thursday, a three-year-old Kelowna boy who broke his arm couldn't receive surgery at KGH due to the closure. Kamloops, Vernon and Penticton were unable to take him, so it wasn't until 10 a.m. the next morning when the boy was taken via plane to Vancouver for proper treatment at BC Children's Hospital. 'The uncertainty that every family in Kelowna and the broader catchment area of Interior Health is dealing with- we don't know if the medical system we're paying for that we rely on will be there when we need,' said Dew. A town hall is being planned for July 2 to discuss the health care crisis. The Health Minister has been invited to the event – but whether or not she'll be there is still unclear.
