Expecting mothers Jen Mio and Emilie Schmit are calling on the Government of BC to fix critical staffing shortages at the Bulkley Valley District Hospital (BVDH) in Smithers, after they were told they may have to give birth in the emergency room, or another hospital if maternity staff weren’t available.
Although a Northern Health representative wasn’t averrable for comment, Mio and Schmit said they were told that they may have to deliver in the emergency room at the BV Hospital, if the maternity ward isn’t properly staffed after 7pm, or they may need to drive to Terrace or Prince George to deliver there baby’s, a two to four hour drive away.
“As citizens we all pay taxes for essential services,” said Mio. “How has it come to this point? Why isn’t my baby daughter going to have the same level of care as my sons did when they were born?”
Mio and Schmit delivered a letter to MLA for Stikine and Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship, Nathan Cullen’s office demanding the Government of BC reinstate full-time maternity services to the BVDH and for more transparency with future hospital service disruptions.
Mounting costs, ageing facilities and major staff shortages have lead to unprecedented closures and delays in the Northern Health region, which has many worried, especially in rural, northern communities. Staff shortages means hospitals and clinics don’t have the capacity to support a growing number of patients, even declining services in come cases, which we’ve come to rely on as a first world country with a publicly run healthcare system.
As the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic persists, nurses, doctors and other support staff positions have dwindled in the last two years, pushing northern, rural hospitals to the brink.
At this point both Mio and Schmit are nearing 38 weeks and are uncertain as to where exactly they’ll give birth.
