Steps must be taken at once to provide labour and delivery service for Pincher Creek hospital: UNA

Steps must be taken at once to ensure safe labour and delivery services, including surgical supports continue in Pincher Creek after the end of May, say United Nurses of Alberta members working in in the Southern Alberta community.

Concerns for maternity care in Pincher Creek have been mounting for months since the only surgeon in the town of about 4,000 people 210 kilometres south of Calgary gave notice he would no longer support labour and delivery services after May 31.

“UNA’s labour and delivery nurses are ready and willing to continue to provide this essential service within this community and region,” Local 23 President Trudi Lee Bennett said today.

“This is not a problem that our members working in the community can resolve, and it must be treated with appropriate seriousness by the authorities who do have the ability to do something,” said UNA President Heather Smith.

“Our concern is the safety of patients,” Smith said. “It is not appropriate to state that it will be ‘status quo’ for staff or the public.”

“If the issues between physicians, AHS, and the government remain unresolved, AHS must provide clear direction, including contingency plans to ensure patent safety,” Smith concluded.

In 2020, nine physicians practicing in the town threatened to discontinue their services, citing decisions made by the Alberta government.

There were 67 babies delivered at the Pincher Creek hospital last year.