Interior Health CEO steps down amid pediatric unit closure at Kelowna General Hospital
KGH's 10-bed inpatient general pediatrics unit has been closed since May due to doctor shortages
The CEO of Interior Health is stepping down amid an extended closure of the pediatric in-patient unit at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH), the regional health authority announced Friday.
Service disruptions to the KGH's 10-bed inpatient general pediatrics unit were announced on May 24, with an extended closure of six weeks to begin May 26, due to doctor shortages.
CEO Susan Brown had announced her plans to retire in April, but will be leaving in advance of her pending retirement, said Interior Health Board Chair Dr. Robert Halpenny.
"And then Susan has come to her own independent decision that she wanted to transition out of the CEO position," said Halpenny.
"I can't comment on her personal reasons for making that decision."
Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew, an outspoken critic of both Interior Health and B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne, says Brown's resignation is "an overdue step in the right direction."
"Next step is the hard work of rebuilding confidence and trust for people that work in the Interior Health system — and for the people and families that rely on it."
Kamloops Centre MLA Peter Milobar says he isn't sure things will change at Interior Health following Brown's resignation, and attributes problems at the health authority to "meddling at the ministerial level."
"Over time, you know, the regular contact we would have as MLAs with Interior Health has gotten harder and harder… those communication lines and the frequency diminished over time."
"And I can only assume that was direction coming from the minister of health's direction in terms of Interior Health leadership."
'Unsafe conditions'
In the five weeks since the pediatric unit at KGH has closed, multiple doctors and pediatricians have come forward with reports of internal issues at the hospital.
Earlier in June, Dr. Alysha MacKenzie-Feder told CBC News she and six other pediatricians left the hospital in 2023 because of years of unmanageable caseloads.
"It's not that there is a shortage of physicians, it's that the system doesn't exist for them to work safely and sustainably," Mackenzie-Feder said previously.
KGH is one of only two tertiary referral hospitals in the region; the other is Royal Inland Hospital, around 214 kilometres away in Kamloops.
With the pediatric ward at KGH closed, some children have been transferred to other hospitals for ongoing care.
'Reset for the organization'
Halpenny says the health authority didn't initially know how long it would take to reopen the pediatric ward after the closure.
"I'm not so sure, initially, that we were sure how long this was going to take ... where we stand now is we're very encouraged with the recruitment process that we're undergoing."
Four physicians will be coming to KGH over the next few months, Halpenny says.
Additionally, the health authority says it will continue to work with the medical staff association and Doctors of B.C. through an established joint action committee to address the staffing challenges and "stabilize services" and will appoint a third-party facilitator to make recommendations to the board.
"We don't know who that will be as yet … I think when things are emotional, sometimes we have to take a step back and it's often good to have someone who's neutral who can look at both perspectives," Halpenny said.
Sylvia Weir, the current chief financial officer and vice president of corporate services, will be stepping in as the interim president and CEO of the government agency.
Halpenny says Brown will continue to be an employee of Interior Health as she supports the organization in its transition.
"I think it's a reset for the organization," Halpenny said.
The B.C. Conservative Party is holding a town hall meeting about the crisis next Wednesday.
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With files from Brady Strachan, Christine Coulter, and Katie DeRosa