Vancouver General Hospital (VGH) no longer has on-call obstetrics coverage, after the group of Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) Specialists from BC Women\u2019s Hospital that provided them with 24\/7 emergency on-call coverage ended their agreement with the hospital.<\/p>\n
\u201cVCH [Vancouver Coastal Health] was not able to secure an alternative arrangement for this coverage and has made some changes to how it will support these patients by safely accessing other resources across the Lower Mainland,\u201d said Vancouver Coastal Health in a statement to Daily Hive.<\/p>\n
If someone over 20 weeks pregnant has a life-threatening emergency and comes to the VGH emergency department, they will be stabilized and possibly transferred to \u00a0St. Paul\u2019s Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital or Royal Columbian Hospital.<\/p>\n
The health authority noted that VGH is not a site for \u201cmaternal obstetrical services,\u201d such as delivering babies. These services are instead provided at other hospitals, including BC Women\u2019s Hospital, St. Paul\u2019s Hospital, Lions Gate Hospital, and Richmond Hospital.<\/p>\n
VCH said that there is a \u201cvery low volume\u201d of pregnant patients who attend VGH for emergency care.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the interim, VGH has made arrangements to provide emergency care for people over 20 weeks pregnant to ensure services are delivered in the safest way possible. From end of 2023 to date, approximately one pregnant patient over 20 weeks gestation visited VGH for emergency care per month that required a transfer to another hospital for obstetrical care.\u201d<\/p>\n
They added that this plan will remain in place until they confirm a longer-term solution.<\/p>\n
VCH advised people to call 911 in case of a health emergency, as BC Emergency Health Services will send an ambulance to the correct hospital.<\/p>\n
OB-GYN shortage<\/p>\n
Fraser Health has also experienced an OB-GYN shortage in the past year<\/a>, resulting in them diverting maternity patients from White Rock\u2019s Peach Arch and Ridge Meadows Hospitals for days at a time.<\/p>\n