‘We’re all very insulted’: Kelowna ER doctors blindsided by Interior Health CEO allegations

Communications between the Interior Health Authority and a group of physicians raising concerns about the closure of the pediatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital have hit a new low.

Dr. Jeffrey Eppler says he and fellow ER doctors were “taken aback” by a statement earlier this week from the CEO of Interior Health Susan Brown, in which she suggests she’s seen unproductive behaviour and “sensationalized misinformation.”

Brown wrote that the behaviour is not in alignment with the values of Interior Health such as quality, integrity, compassion and safety.

Eppler, who has been vocal about the problems that forced Kelowna General Hospital to close down its pediatric ward for six weeks due to a shortage of specialists, says he was shocked by the statement — adding that the whole emergency department is very committed to delivering compassionate, safe, quality patient care.

Health Minister Josie Osborne says it’s “extremely important” that the health authority and doctors communicate about concerns in the workplace.

“I know that senior leadership at Interior Health are meeting with the physicians in two of the departments at the hospital. My understanding is that they have been relatively constructive conversations and that there is a bit of a pathway forward that’s being charted,” said Osborne.

She says the Ministry of Health has offered a mediator to help make sure the health authority and doctors can communicate “productively.”

Eppler says he’s not really interested in that.

“I don’t think we need a mediator. I think we need a functioning pediatric department and the Kelowna General Hospital emergency department did not create this problem. We’re trying to provide some short term solutions, and I’m not sure really how productive that would be,” said Eppler.

He says he couldn’t believe Brown’s public response, adding that there are several avenues to address issues, like medical advisory committees.

“To air this publicly in such a manner, strikes me as incredibly unprofessional and very poor leadership.”

Eppler says ER doctors at the hospital have been trying to bridge the gap to make sure patients — including kids — get the emergency care they need.

“We really were trying to work together to try and deal with this problem, and it really, really caught us all off guard, and we’re all very insulted by it, quite frankly, and quite angered by it.”

He says doctors at the hospital found out about the duration of the pediatric department closure through the media, and not directly from Interior Health.

The BC Conservatives say there is a systemic failure in health care delivery under the BC NDP government, and, last week, renewed calls for a full independent audit of B.C.’s regional health authorities, beginning with Interior Health.