White Rock maternity unit to close for nearly a week
Posted March 24, 2026 7:50 am.
The maternity unit at White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital is facing its sixth and longest temporary closure of the year.
From Wednesday, March 25, at 8 a.m. until Tuesday, March 31, at 8 a.m., expectant parents will be diverted to other care facilities.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO 1130 NEWSRADIO VANCOUVER LIVE!Six days marks the longest the unit has been forced to divert patients since the closures became a regular occurance.
Fraser Health says the diversions are due to an ongoing shortage of OBGYNs after “unexpected departures.”
The health authority has been warning of potential shortages at both Ridge Meadows and Peach Arch hospitals since early December 2025.
The unit in Maple Ridge was forced to close for five days, starting last week through Sunday.
The timing of future diversions is “dynamic,” Fraser Health says, and may be announced on short notice in reaction to unexpected absences and doctors calling in sick.
“If you are in labour or have a pregnancy concern, please call the Maternity Unit first. Our staff will direct you to the appropriate hospital for care,” said the health authority in a post to social media.
