In-patient maternity services at Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) in Williams Lake will be fully restored as of July 1, Interior Health announced today (June 27).
"Sufficient numbers of fully trained maternity nurses are now in place at CMH, allowing the hospital to return to its previous level of service delivery. Mothers who go into labour prior to 35 weeks gestation may be transferred to a higher level of care facility," reads a press release. "CMH is again able to accommodate all other births."
Maternity services were temporarily suspended at the hospital at the end of February as a result of a critical shortage of maternity nurses.
Low-risk delivery services resumed on April 30, but high-risk moms were asked to travel to other hospitals, including Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops and University Hospital of Northern B.C. in Prince George, to deliver their babies.
"When full restoration starts on July 1, a cohort of experienced nurses, plus newly trained maternity nurses, will be available to cover shifts," states the release. "We would like to thank CMH staff and physicians for their flexibility and dedication during this challenging time and to our maternity nurses for their support of CMH patients in the months ahead."
