Kelowna mayor questions pediatric ward closure at hospital – Okanagan [Video]

Concerns over the pediatric ward closure at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) continue to grow a week and half into the service disruption.

“We’re a huge city. This should not be happening,” said Louise Harris, a Kelowna mother of six. “As a parent this is very concerning.”

The pediatrician ward closed on May 26 for six weeks, possibly longer, as Interior Health (IH) struggles to recruit and retain physicians at the hospital.

The health authority has confirmed that since the ward’s closure, it has transferred six pediatric patients to other hospitals across the health region.

IH previously defended its decision to close the ward, saying it had no choice because it needed to preserve pediatrician coverage for critical services, such as high-risk deliveries.

“Scared but also angry,” is how Leslie Plummer described how she feels about the closure.

The Kelowna woman cares for her four-year old granddaughter four days a week.

“Why would they let this happen, why …