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Kelowna Pediatric Unit Closure Draws Leadership Scrutiny as Three New Doctors Set to Join

Interior Health plans to add three pediatricians by September as staff divisions and political pressure escalate over the prolonged shutdown.

the pediatric ward at KGH closed on May 26. It's not known when it will re-open.
The former head of the pediatrics department at KGH is calling for a long term plan to prevent further erosion of pediatric services at the hospital.
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Overview

  • Since its shutdown on May 26, Kelowna General’s 10-bed pediatric unit has remained closed, necessitating 14 child transfers to Penticton, Kamloops and Vernon.
  • Interior Health has announced that one pediatrician will start this summer and two more are expected to join in September to rebuild local capacity.
  • Front-line clinicians, led by Dr. Jeffrey Eppler, criticized CEO Susan Brown’s public remarks as a veiled attack on emergency staff and highlighted long-standing staffing strains.
  • Dr. Kate Runkle said her repeated proposals for a revised pediatric service model between 2019 and 2021 were dismissed, and the 2023 resignations of seven pediatricians worsened the shortage.
  • B.C. Conservatives and local MLAs have demanded Susan Brown’s resignation and systemic reforms at Interior Health and the Ministry of Health to address the care breakdown.