Peace Arch Hospital maternity ward to remain open; Fraser Health reverses decision

Pregnant people planning to deliver at White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital will still be able to do so. Fraser Health has reversed its decision to close that hospital’s maternity ward.

Fraser Health president and CEO Dr. Victoria Lee now says the health authority has “significant new scheduling commitments” that “enable us to prevent the diversion.” She says it’s changing its payment model in an effort to get more pediatricians working at Peace Arch Hospital.

The health authority’s announcement that the ward will remain open all came after strong opposition to the closure from patients, health-care workers, and politicians.

Fraser Health initially cited an “unexpected leave” impacting staffing as a reason for the need to close. The closure, which would have taken effect on Jan. 28, would have seen an indefinite diversion to Langley Memorial Hospital.

Last week’s announcement led to pushback from pregnant patients and health-care providers, with some saying they were “terrified” that the closure would become permanent. Liberal MLA Trevor Halford, who represents Surrey-White Rock called the initial decision to close the ward “completely wrong” and “very troubling.”

When asked whether political or community pressure played a role in the reversal of last week’s decision, Lee reiterated that they now have “significant coverage” to help fill gaps in service, emphasizing that it was a “workforce challenge.”

#BREAKING Fraser Health reverses decision to indefinitely shut down Peace Arch Hospital maternity ward.

— Martin MacMahon (@martinmacmahon) January 20, 2022

As many as 1,000 babies are born at Peace Arch Hospital every year, Lee says. By contrast, he says Surrey Memorial Hospital handles up to 5,000 births annually.

“Sometimes the payment models that are … what’s called ‘fee for service’ model in a lower birth community isn’t as attractive or it’s more difficult to attract pediatricians to those areas,” she said.

Fraser Health says they’re working to ensure doctors are paid for their time, instead of per delivery. It will also make other adjustments in an effort to attract pediatricians.

“Having an alternative payment plan or salary-time payment arrangement helps us to better recruit the full complement that we require,” said Dr. Darren Lazare, the Fraser Health Authority’s regional department head for its mother, infant, child, youth program.

Related articles:

• Peace Arch Hospital maternity ward closure ‘very troubling’: Surrey-area MLA

• ‘We’re terrified’: Pregnant patients, healthcare providers oppose Peace Arch maternity closure‘

• Extended diversion’ for maternity patients at Peace Arch Hospital

To properly staff Peace Arch Hospital, the equivalent of five full-time pediatricians, according to Lazare, who says there are currently seven people working under contract, and many of whom are part-timers.

“Having seven pediatricians on staff at the moment is not the equivalent of five full-time staff,” Lazare said.

A rally was held outside Peach Arch Hospital on Thursday Jan. 20, 2022. (CityNews Image)

Although the maternity ward will not close down next week, some patients may still be diverted.

“We would only have sporadic single-day diversions and only when necessary,” Lee said, acknowledging there have been “periodic gaps” in pediatric coverage.

“Unfortunately, this is not new,” she said.

Lee insists there are no issues with funding at the hospital and the initial decision to implement an indefinite diversion was due to a “human resource capacity issue.”