Michelle Lang, Calgary Herald
Expectant mothers in Banff may have to travel to Canmore to give birth after health officials said Tuesday a shortage of nurses could force them to temporarily suspend deliveries at the hospital.
Staff at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital are holding meetings in a bid to find a solution to the nursing problem, but if they're not successful, the obstetrics program will likely be put on hold for at least three months.
Physicians in Banff said they are upset about the prospect of the hospital suspending deliveries, arguing Canmore's hospital is already crowded and transferring their patients to the facility will only make the situation worse.
The Banff hospital handles about 120 births a year.
"It's a huge loss to the community," said Dr. Jane Fowke, a family doctor in Banff who has 12 patients who are due in March.
"Obstetrics should be at the forefront. It's a basic service."
Officials with Alberta Health Services, the superboard that oversees the delivery of medical care in the province, said staff are working hard to avoid suspending the services.
"That decision hasn't been made yet," said Mark Kastner, a superboard spokesman.
"They are looking at options like getting staff from other jurisdictions."
For women who were planning on delivering their babies at the Banff hospital, the possibility they may have to go elsewhere at the last minute has been stressful.
Aysun Demirkoparan, who is having her first child in six weeks, called the situation "inexcusable" and said the hospital should have made the problem public sooner.
"I'm absolutely devastated, to be honest," said Demirkoparan, who learned about the situation on Tuesday. "My whole birthing option has to be reconsidered."
Earlier this month, the Banff hospital called an emergency meeting with Fowke and the other local family doctor who handles obstetrics to tell them about the situation.
The physicians were told the hospital is facing a staffing crisis for nurses in obstetrics, a specialty area of nursing.
Alberta Health Services said some nurses have given notice that they are leaving, and the Banff hospital has four vacant registered nursing positions -- a substantial number for the small facility.
Fowke said she is lobbying Banff town council and the provincial government to keep the program running, fearing the temporary suspension of service could become permanent.
Health officials have held discussions in recent years about having Banff and Canmore share an obstetrics program. The towns are 25 kilometres apart.
But Alberta Health Services said any suspension of the services at the Banff hospital would be temporary.
"At this time, there's no intention of eliminating obstetric services from Banff," said Kastner.
"The Labour & Delivery program at the Banff Mineral Springs Hospital is in jeopardy of being cancelled. The hospital management is using the 'staffing situation' as justification for canceling a program they no longer wish to continue. By signing this petition, you show your support for this integral program and the need to keep Labour and Delivery in Banff. This petition will be send to the administrators of Banff Mineral Springs Hospital, The Town of Banff, Convenenant Health Authority and Alberta Health and Wellness."
If you want to sign the above petition, you may sign it in CANMORE at SilverSpoon or in BANFF at 344B (back half) Muskrat Street. Please watch for more info on how to show your support.
PLEASE FORWARD TO YOUR CONTACTS with in interest in this issue.
If you want to contact your MLA and Healthminister about the issue see their contacts below.
The Honourable Janis Tarchuk, Minister of Children’s Services
Constituency Office for the MLA for Banff-Cochrane and
P.O. Box 790
4th Floor, 229 Bear Street
Banff, AB
Canada T1L 1A8
Phone: (403) 760-8281
Toll-Free: 1-866-760-8281
Fax: (403) 760-5009
banff.cochrane@assembly.ab.ca
e-mail for Hon. Ronald Liepert , Minister for Health and Wellness:
calgary.west@assembly.ab.ca
2 comments:
Wow, the timing is ridiculous. It would be nice for you to have the doctor and nurses you are comfortable with, but your options are still two of the most beautiful towns in Canada. Maybe you could just linger near the hospital when you think baby Janet is ready and then they'll HAVE to take you. yay!!
Hmmm, not a bad idea...
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