Maple Ridge hospital’s ‘temporary’ maternity diversion is nearly permanent as local MLA speaks up

MAPLE RIDGE – Fraser Health says a “temporary gap” in obstetrician-gynecologist will impact services at a hospital in Maple Ridge this week, but that so-called temporary gap is becoming more of a permanent thing.

The latest maternity “diversion” – a euphemism for a lack of doctors – will occur at Ridge Meadows Hospital starting Thursday, June 18 at 8 a.m. and continue until Monday, June 22 at 8 a.m.

Expecting moms or mothers who have a pregnancy concern are asked to call the hospital’s maternity unit first so that staff can direct the women to the appropriate hospital for care.

In the past, Fraser Health has claimed that it’s recruiting specialist physicians to resolve the ongoing issue, but based on this being at least the 13th maternity diversion in six months, those claims don’t appear to hold up.