Expectant mothers in Banff are outraged after the local hospital confirmed it's temporarily suspending obstetric services-- a decision that could lead one local doctor to stop delivering babies if the move becomes permanent.
Banff Mineral Springs Hospital officials announced Tuesday that a severe nursing shortage is forcing them to put the facility's obstetrics pro-gram on hold and send women to give birth at hospitals in Canmore or Calgary.
Alberta Health Services said last week the program would be suspended for about three months, but hospital officials now say it's not clear when Banff will begin delivering babies again.
"There is no end date to the suspension, it's not necessarily three months," said Cindy Mulherin, executive director of the hospital, noting the program could restart before or after that period.
"It's all dependent on our ability to acquire skilled nurses. We're not going to compromise patient safety."
The decision met with an angry response in Banff, where residents said pregnant women in the area, including Lake Louise and Field, B. C., would now have to rely on the space-strapped Canmore hospital.
Kelly Moynihan, a Banff woman who is expecting her first baby in April, said she's worried about potentially having to drive all the way to Calgary to deliver, if the Canmore facility is full.
"We might be having our baby on the side of the road somewhere between Morley and Springbank,"she said. "It's absolutely appalling."
Meanwhile, one of two Banff physicians who delivers babies said she won't continue her obstetrics work if the temporary suspension of the services becomes permanent.
Dr. Jane Fowke said she can't repeatedly drive 20 minutes to Canmore, at all hours, to deliver babies, while maintaining her family practice in Banff.
"I'd have to stop doing deliveries, which is devastating," she said. "That's what I love to do."
The hospital's announcement comes less than a week after dozens of residents staged a protest calling on the facility to continue delivering babies. Protest organizers said they are planning a second rally for this Saturday.
Banff Mineral Springs Hospital handles about 120 births a year.
Hospital officials said they made the decision after losing several nurses, including one who is on extended vacation, a nurse who left on an early maternity leave and several others who are planning to take leaves.
The facility's acute care unit, which provides the maternity services, has four job postings for registered nurses, and the small hospital said it has had trouble recruiting nurses with obstetrics skills.
While staffing shortages motivated the decision, Mulherin confirmed that health officials have studied the feasibility of consolidating Banff and Can-more maternity services.
"The studies found there was some merit in consolidating services in one location," she said, noting the reviews are several years old.
"But that's not what has driven this suspension of service."
Banff town council said Tuesday it's concerned over what it calls the loss of "an essential community service."
One councillor said the community is committed to helping recruit nurses and added the town wishes the hospital had asked for assistance sooner.
"We've heard from the community, and the community wants this service to continue uninterrupted,"said Stavros Karlos, Banff's acting mayor.
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