Why Maternity Care Matters in Kamloops

Maternity care is not optional — it is essential. It provides the guidance, support, and medical expertise families need during one of the most important times in their lives. Yet in Kamloops, these services are at risk of collapsing.

In recent months, the Thompson Region Family Obstetrics (TRFO) clinic stopped accepting new patients, citing critical staffing shortages and lack of specialist support. Shortly after, all seven OB-GYNs at Royal Inland Hospital resigned their hospital privileges, warning of a “near-total loss of low- and high-risk obstetrics in Kamloops.” Families are now facing uncertainty about where they will deliver their babies, with some forced to travel out of town for care.

This is not a short-term inconvenience — it is a crisis with real impacts on parents, babies, and our entire community.

Why Maternity Care Matters

When maternity services are strong, families thrive. Collaborative, patient-centered care — where OB-GYNs, midwives, family doctors, nurses, doulas, and lactation consultants work together — ensures:

• Healthier outcomes: Safe, timely access reduces risks during pregnancy, labour, and delivery.

• Empowered choices: Families can make informed decisions when care is coordinated and supportive.

• Emotional safety: Wraparound support helps parents feel confident and less isolated.

• Stronger communities: Maternity care is community care. When it falters, the whole region feels the impact.

  
  

My own birth experience showed me what’s possible. I had access to a collective care model — a midwife, OB-GYN, doulas, a lactation consultant, and the dedicated staff in labour and delivery and the NICU. This wraparound approach made me feel safe, empowered, and confident navigating my first pregnancy and birth. Every family deserves the same.

The Barriers Families Now Face

• Uncertainty of services: With TRFO closed to new referrals and OB-GYNs stepping back, access to local care is shrinking fast.

• Unsafe workloads: Providers themselves are warning that current conditions cannot support safe practice.

• Travel burdens: Some families may be forced to deliver in other communities, adding stress, cost, and risk.

• Erosion of trust: Expectant parents are left asking, “Who will deliver my baby, and where?”

  
  

What We’re Advocating For

Maternity Matters Kamloops is calling on Interior Health and the Ministry of Health to act now. Together with health care professionals, we are demanding:

• Stabilized staffing through recruitment, retention, and safe workloads.

• Guaranteed 24/7 hospital services, including C-sections, at Royal Inland Hospital.

• Collaborative care models that bring OB-GYNs, midwives, family doctors, and support professionals together.

• Equitable access so rural, Indigenous, and lower-income families aren’t left behind.

• Transparency and accountability through clear updates to the community.

  
  

How You Can Help

• Join us at community rallies and events to show your support.

• Share your story to raise awareness of what’s at stake.

• Contact your representatives and urge them to prioritize maternity care in Kamloops. A media kit with templates is coming. Stay tuned!

• Spread the word — on social media, in conversations, and within your networks

  
  

Every action matters. Together, we can ensure that expectant families in Kamloops have access to the safe, compassionate, and local maternity care they deserve.

✨ Because maternity care matters — and families can’t wait.

As we move forward, remember that change is possible. With your help, we can create a world where maternity support services are accessible, comprehensive, and compassionate. Join us today and be part of this important movement. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of healthcare practitioners and expectant families.