Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / PML / The maternity unit at Chilliwack General Hospital will be closed intermittently in May, according to Dr. Alison Henry, a Chilliwack family doctor. Dr. Henry shared a letter with Fraser Valley Today in which Fraser Health Authority has notified her shared clinic that the maternity unit will have several days of closures in May, meaning expecting mothers will need to go to Abbotsford Regional Hospital to have their babies safely delivered. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Maternity unit closure at Chilliwack Hospital

Chilliwack Hospital maternity unit to close for parts of May, patients diverted to Abbotsford

Apr 18, 2023 | 6:11 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack family doctor Dr. Alison Henry says she plans to notify patients of the shared clinic where she works about an upcoming maternity unit closure at Chilliwack General Hospital.

In a letter that she intends to distribute to patients this week, Dr. Henry says the shared clinic has been notified by Fraser Health that the CGH maternity unit will need to close on specific dates in May due to staffing issues.

“To our expecting mothers and their families, it is a true privilege to be entrusted to care for yourself and your growing family during this very special time in your lives,” the letter states as shared with Fraser Valley Today. “With this shared trust comes an obligation from us, your maternity providers, to arrange care for you whenever you need it during your pregnancy. Unfortunately, we have been notified by Fraser Health Authority that the maternity unit will need to close on specific dates due to staffing issues.”

The maternity unit will be officially closed on the following dates:

* Thursday, May 4 at 00:00 (midnight) until Friday, May 5 at 8 a.m.

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* Thursday, May 11 at 00:00 (midnight) until Monday, May 15 at 8 a.m.

* Thursday, May 18 at 00:00 (midnight) until Friday, May 19 at 8 a.m.

* Thursday May 24 at 00:00 (midnight) until Friday May 26 at 8 a.m.

“More specifically our hospital has been unable to secure obstetrician and gynecologist coverage, which makes it impossible to provide emergency procedures such as cesarean section,” the letter advises patients. “This creates an unsafe environment for you and your growing family. If you have any labour concerns or any issues with your pregnancy during this time, please proceed to Abbotsford General Hospital maternity unit. They will be prepared to manage our patients from Chilliwack.”

Dr. Henry indicated Fraser Health Authority has been attempting to fill an expected gynecologist vacancy at CGH.

“Fraser Health Authority has been working and will continue to work to find staffing to fill these vacancies,” the letter said. “So, please talk to your provider for any updates. Thank you for your trust and we greatly apologize for the added burden these changes may add to your lives at this time.”

An email seeking comment was sent to Fraser Health spokesperson Nick Eagland Monday night.

The closure days are not only 24 hours in length but will also affect care before the closures occur, Dr. Henry said.

“The closure days are 24 hours – that is when we have no obstetrician coverage,” Dr. Henry said in a follow-up email. “However, due to safety issues we can not start a lady in labour at our site and then have to move her in the middle of labour.”

Dr. Henry expressed concern for expecting mothers who may not know about these upcoming changes.

“I am concerned that some women will not know about these changes and will come to CGH in labour when we do not have adequate staff,” Dr. Henry said. “I am also extremely concerned for my patients who live in Hope and Boston Bar as they have much farther to go. Boston Bar to Abbotsford is over an hour. We will be talking to any women who might be at higher risk and attempting to have the deliver when we have adequate staffing and a fully functional unit.”

As far as the number of patients this closure will impact, Dr. Henry estimated that CGH delivers an average of two babies a day. She states she had seven deliveries in one 24-hour period last week, but described that day as an outlier.

“We deliver around 650 babies a year at CGH,” Dr. Henry said. “There are currently six family doctors doing deliveries out of CGH and I believe eight midwives. My goal…is to educate all pregnant women about this closure to help them get to ARH (Abbotsford Regional Hospital) safely and quickly,” Dr. Henry said.

Chilliwack General Hospital encountered a somewhat similar situation nearly four years ago when Fraser Health announced the maternity ward at CGH would be closing on June 24, 2019 indefinitely due to an obstetrician staffing issue, CBC News reported. Expecting mothers in Chilliwack, Agassiz, Hope, Boston Bar, and the surrounding communities were diverted to ARH, CBC reported.