THANK YOU to the wonderful community of providers who continue to support maternity care and extend a helping hand during these challenging times. Your presence and commitment are deeply valued!
During these challenging times, the Division is committed to providing members with important timely updates as it relates to maternity care.
Maternity Survey Update
What We Heard
Thirty members responded to a Division survey last month about your interest and capacity to support maternity care in the Thompson Region for both attached and unattached patients. Twenty-one respondents shared they are willing to provide prenatal and/or postpartum care to patients and commented on what some of the barriers are and what would help you feel more confident and supported:
Barriers:
- Inadequate compensation compared to other areas of care
- Communication between providers types
- Not enough providers in the system
- Workload
- Lack of training
Supports:
- More information for patients
- Training and education
- Easy and timely access to advice and expertise
- Referral processes and awareness of pathways
- Having another provider take over later in pregnancy
- Strong relationships with other providers, including specialists
What We Are Doing
The Division is an invested partner in maternity care stability and sustainability. We are supporting members with the following activities:
- Easy and timely access to advice and expertise: We are looking at ways to leverage existing regional and provincial tools and build local supports to enhance access to specialist expertise in maternity care, such as establishing a local community of practice and phone access to maternity care providers for non-urgent guidance.
- Training and information: We are hosting a Maternity Care Refresh session on January 28th – registration and additional resources can be found here. We will continue to seek opportunities to bring maternity CME to the region and virtually.
- Referral processes and awareness of pathways: We are partnering in the co-creation of an integrated maternity care model with providers, the Health Authority and several community partners.
- Regional and Provincial advocacy: We are working with the health authority, Perinatal Services BC, Shared Care Committee and the Family Practice Services Committee to escalate local challenges and support system change.
- Recruitment and Retention: The Division and Interior Health are working in collaboration to recruit locums and providers to the Thompson region. We are actively supporting providers who do provide maternity care to remove barriers and advance their priorities.
- Funding for Provider Leadership: The Division is seeking additional funding to continue to support provider leadership and engagement in system rebuild work.
- Commitment to Communication: We will provide members with regular updates and provide opportunities for two-way communication.
As we move forward together, there continues to be an urgent need for low-risk delivery coverage at Royal Inland Hospital. If you know someone who may be able to help, please share with your network and connect them with Melanie Todd at mtodd@thompsondivision.ca.
December 17, 2025: Interior Health has shared a Kamloops maternity services update. We invite you to read it here.
