With obstetrics clinic’s future in doubt, Interior Health gives expectant Kamloops mothers a lifeline

KAMLOOPS – Soon-to-be mothers without an obstetrics doctor may soon be receiving a call for prenatal care.

Tuesday morning (June 6), Interior Health announced the opening of a midwifery antenatal clinic at the Royal Inland Hospital.

According to the health authority, those who have already received a dating ultrasound but are unattached will be receiving a call from the clinic soon.

“If they haven’t had their dating ultrasound, please get your dating ultrasound. You can do that by going to your family provider, your family practitioner will be able to get that done for you because that is the gateway when TRFO reopens,” Lisa Zetes-Zanatta, IH executive director of clinical operations for the Kamloops community told CFJC News.

The new clinic is intended to provide early pregnancy care following the closure of the city’s only obstetrics clinic due to staff shortages.

Though it’s still early, Zetes-Zanatta believes this new clinic will aid in bringing new healthcare workers to Kamloops.

“[Midwives are] not new to the community, but since we have talked to them about opening this clinic, there are midwives from outside of the community who have considered joining us as well,” she said. “I think that this is an amazing strategy for recruitment and retention of skilled providers to our area, as well as having a service for women that we’ve known we’ve needed.”

Unattached pregnant women seeking urgent care are still being referred to the RIH obstetrics unit or emergency room for the time being.

Interior Health says it is not ready to share any news as of yet, but hopes it will have a solution for prenatal care after the 20-week mark soon.