Could B.C. OBGYN resignations be a sign of what’s to come nationally?

A maternal health-care specialist is warning that the recent mass resignations of an entire B.C. obstetric department could be an example of what’s to come if things don’t change in the sector.

Seven obstetrician gynecologists (OBGYNs) from Kamloop’s Royal Inland Hospital resigned over the weekend, citing safety issues from a changing workload and staffing challenges.

In a letter, the doctors said they hope this loss will motivate change to improve support for women’s health. While the doctors will continue seeing pregnant patients in office, they will phase out their services so that the clients will have to go elsewhere for labour and delivery.

Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck is a maternal fetal medicine specialist and president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada. She says the mass quitting in Kamloops is just one example of a larger issue that’s happening across Canada.

When it comes to the doctors’ letter that referenced improving support, Murphy-Kaulbeck says that was likely a result of lack of staffing, such as nurses and other health-care providers.

“When you look at when you’re short on obstetricians or you’re short on pediatricians, women often get delayed in induction or being prepared for delivery when they’re supposed to,” she told CTV’s Your Morning on Friday.

She added that being short-staffed will also impact transporting women when they need to be redirected to other facilities, whether by ambulance or by air.

Since health care is delivered on a provincial or territorial basis, Murphy-Kaulbeck says from a national perspective, in-person planning is very difficult and there’s often no national data.

She also stressed that obstetrics and gynecology is a tough specialty, and there isn’t enough training positions to fill the vacancies.

“As people move forward in their careers, some will decide not to do labour and delivery anymore, or they will phase out earlier than what you see in other specialties,” she said.

Murphy-Kaulbeck added that while there can be training and placements in hospitals across Canada, if there isn’t support within the context of the institution or the health authority, staff won’t stick around.

Since midwives, family doctors, obstetricians and gynecologists fall under the umbrella of obstetrical services, Murphy-Kaulbeck says it’s important to look at the actual numbers needed to put a team together, which also considers nursing support.

“It’s multifactorial, but I think we really need to put our heads down as a national group and say ‘How do we fix this?,’ because it’s happening in every province in Canada,” Murphy-Kaulbeck said.

She hopes the idea of pan-Canadian licensure will eventually be considered, which would make it easier for physicians who wants to help a short-staffed hospital in another province. Currently there are separate licensures for each province.

According to the Canadian Medical Association, “other than a few exceptions, practicing in a different province or territory has involved a lengthy application process, sometimes months long, and thousands of dollars in fees.”

“It’s something we have to address because what we’re seeing in Kamloops I think you’re are seeing in other (places),” she said.