The decision to close the pediatric ward at Kelowna General Hospital for the next six weeks has prompted outrage from parents, healthcare workers, and politicians alike.BC Conservative West Kelowna-Peachland MLA Macklin McCall, for example, deemed it a "full-blown pediatric care crisis," and called on the BC NDP government to take action..During Question Period on Wednesday, McCall explained that under the current "unsafe" staffing model, one pediatrician tends to the ward, psychiatric patients, emergency, the NICU, and high-risk deliveries at the same time."For years, they've been raising alarms," he said, referring to healthcare workers. "How does this premier expect one doctor to be in five places at once.".Among those who spoke out was Dr. Hannah Duyvewaardt, an emergency room physician at Kelowna General.."We have a sick kid in our trauma bay from an asthma exacerbation. That pediatrician is helping me, getting their airway ready for a potential intubation, and then they get called to a C-section — and then their pager goes off again and there's a seizing baby in the NICU," she said in a video posted to Instagram. "Which child are they going to leave? Which child will not get their care and attention? That's going to have negative consequences for that child and also for that physician."Duyvewaardt went on to note that "for years, [physicians] have advocated saying this is an unsafe work environment for patients," but that time and time again, "their voices have been silenced."Countless commenters shared her frustration, expressing solidarity with healthcare workers and recalling their own experiences from a patient perspective..Health Minister Josie Osborne admitted that it was an "incredibly challenging situation," explaining that while 12 pediatricians are needed at Kelowna General, only six are currently employed. She pointed out that while the pediatric ward is closed, families in Kelowna can still bring their children to the emergency room."Interior Health is working hard to undertake the hiring that they need to do," Osborne added, "and they're seeing success with new pediatricians signing contracts."The shutdown came into effect on May 26 and is expected to last until the second week of July.
