As of Aug. 15, all pediatric services, including the inpatient unit, will be available at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).
A statement from Interior Health (IH) says KGH is welcoming three new pediatricians who will be joining the pediatric team in the next few weeks. Another pediatrician is expected in November.
IH also welcomed a new associate physician to KGH in early July, who is supporting work in the pediatric unit, and a second associate physician will join the team in September.
乌鸦传媒淭hese new physicians, combined with our existing medical staff, mean the inpatient unit has the capacity to serve all pediatric patients in our area who need care,乌鸦传媒� said Dr. Mark Masterson, IH vice-president, medicine. 乌鸦传媒淚 want to thank our team at the hospital and staff and physicians throughout the Interior region who came together to support pediatric care during this time.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淪ome pediatric inpatient services were reintroduced on July 13. Tomorrow乌鸦传媒檚 return to full operations means physicians and staff will be available, providing day and nighttime coverage, pending any unforeseen circumstances,乌鸦传媒� the IH statement says.
The pediatric unit was shut down for nearly two months, beginning on May 26, forcing the transfer of 22 children to other hospitals for care. The closure was criticized by KGH doctors and staff, local MLAs, and saw the resignation of IH CEO Susan Brown, who was set to retire in December.
Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew heavily criticized the closure and pushed Health Minister to visit KGH, .
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 glad to see paediatrics in Kelowna finally back to full capacity, but that was only ever a symptom of a deeper illness," Dew said in a statement.
He added he believes IH still faces serious organizational, cultural, and governance problems.
"By many accounts, potential CEO candidates are hesitant to apply because they know they乌鸦传媒檇 be set up to fail. We can乌鸦传媒檛 just slap on a bandage, pat the patient on the head, and call them cured. We need to diagnose and treat the underlying condition before it gets worse.乌鸦传媒�
IH's statement says leadership continues to focus on rebuilding relationships with community pediatricians and medical staff through direct engagement, in partnership with Doctors of BC,乌鸦传媒� the statement reads.
