Seven OB/GYNs Resign from Kamloops Hospital Over Safety Concerns

Industry Insights from Next Move Strategy Consulting

In a development that has drawn widespread attention across British Columbia’s healthcare landscape, seven obstetrician-gynaecologists (OB/GYNs) at Kamloops’ Royal Inland Hospital have relinquished their in-hospital/surgical privileges, citing mounting safety concerns and systemic challenges in the province’s medical system.

Rising Concerns Over Safety and Support

The resignation, as reported in a letter obtained by CFJC News, underscores the doctors’ growing frustration with changing workloads, recruitment difficulties, and what they describe as insufficient support for women’s health at the provincial level.

“IHA (Interior Health Authority) is very concerned having had seven obstetricians resign,” said Dr. Mark Masterson, Vice President of Medicine for Interior Health. He emphasized that the health authority remains committed to collaborating with specialists while acknowledging that there is still “room for improvement.”

According to Dr. Masterson, “We have lots of opportunity to improve the practices for our providers, and we have lots that we listen to and lots we try to act on… and we also have an opportunity here to lean in further, in working together.”

Long-Standing Disputes and Systemic Challenges

This issue is part of a broader, long-standing concern that has persisted for nearly a decade, with recent escalations unfolding over the past two years. Core issues such as compensation, recruitment, and working conditions have been central to ongoing discussions between medical professionals and health administrators.

B.C. Conservative MLA for Kamloops Centre, Peter Milobar, stated that doctors had been raising these issues for nearly a decade. “For literally eight years, they have been trying with the government to try to get action and changes made around recruitment, around retention, around job satisfaction, around pay levels — all of these issues that have finally come to a head,” Milobar told Global News.

Continuity of Care Amid Resignations

Despite the resignations, Interior Health has assured the public that core maternity services at Royal Inland Hospital will continue. Other qualified specialists are being arranged to perform C-sections and maternity-related surgeries to ensure uninterrupted patient care.

B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustaining care for expectant mothers during the transition period. “We’re also in the process of finalizing the new contract offer that will significantly increase compensation to better support workloads, improve recruitment and retention,” Osborne stated.

Next Move Strategy Consulting’s Perspective

According to Next Move Strategy Consulting, the situation unfolding at Royal Inland Hospital is emblematic of the structural challenges confronting the global hospital market — particularly in regions struggling with staff shortages, rising patient volumes, and funding disparities.

The firm notes that operational resilience, workforce sustainability, and digital transformation are emerging as three core pillars driving hospital competitiveness and long-term viability. Across major healthcare systems, hospitals are under pressure to modernize clinical operations while addressing the workforce burnout that threatens quality of care.

From a strategic standpoint, Next Move Strategy Consulting emphasizes that investment in human capital — including fair compensation, professional development, and enhanced safety protocols — is as vital as investment in infrastructure or technology. Institutions that fail to balance these priorities risk not only talent attrition but also patient trust erosion.

This broader market insight aligns with the Kamloops case, where recruitment and retention pressures have directly influenced service continuity. The incident serves as a critical reminder that hospital systems must evolve structurally — fostering collaboration, prioritizing clinician well-being, and aligning incentives with evolving healthcare realities.

A Call for Structural Transformation

The departure of seven OB/GYNs marks a pivotal moment for British Columbia’s health system, demanding both immediate and long-term responses. As Interior Health and the provincial government work toward resolution, this episode underscores the delicate balance between provider well-being and patient safety — and the urgent need to rebuild trust within hospital systems.

For now, Kamloops’ Royal Inland Hospital continues its operations under pressure. This situation also reflects a broader challenge for healthcare institutions across Canada: sustaining quality care amid mounting workforce strain, highlighting the importance of addressing both operational and human capital pressures.

Source: Global News 

Prepared by: Next Move Strategy Consulting