Kelowna MLA calls for health system reform amid pediatric crisis

Kristina Loewen, MLA for Kelowna Centre, voiced urgent concerns about the six-week closure of the pediatric ward at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) and the reported toxic workplace culture within Interior Health (IH) during an interview with NowMedia.

Loewen emphasized the need for immediate action, accountability, and fresh leadership to restore trust and functionality in the region’s healthcare system.

She highlighted the community’s distress over the pediatric ward closure, which has forced parents to seek care in Vancouver, increasing costs and complicating access.

“It continues to be a really big issue in both of our offices,” she said, referring to her discussions with physicians, pediatricians, midwives, nurses and patients.

Loewen noted that the crisis has strained other departments within KGH, including the emergency room and maternity wards, due to the absence of pediatricians.

Addressing the reasons behind the departure of seven pediatricians in one year, Loewen pointed to the “toxic culture” concerns in IH, which she said is characterized by silenced voices and a lack of open dialogue.

“There’s definitely a toxic culture though, and that’s what I’m hearing a lot about is a lot of silencing of voices,” she stated.

“I think it's really multi-layered. But at the end of the day, it's been going on for a long time and nobody's been talking about it. And now we finally have this, you know, huge issue bubbling up.”

At the end of May, nine members of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at KGH went public with “urgent concerns” and a Kelowna doctor’s video made its rounds online.

On May 31, Physicians of Anesthesiology, Surgery and Obstetrics and Gynecology released a statement highlighting the “urgent challenges facing pediatric care at KGH.”

Interior Health has said it is working to address the concerns raised by doctors at KGH and the health authority's CEO, Susan Brown, said recruitment efforts are ongoing as well as work to address the claims of a toxic work environment.

Lowen said she supported a letter signed by 130 doctors acknowledging the ongoing issues faced by the health care system, adding, “We need to fix that and we can’t fix what we don’t acknowledge.”

Loewen’s comments come just days after her colleague Gavin Dew, MLA for Kelowna-Mission, called for Brown to resign.

Loewen backed Dew’s call, arguing that new leadership is essential to rebuild confidence among departed doctors.

“There’s a lack of a plan going forward, other than recruitment,” she remarked, criticizing the absence of short-term strategies.

Brown has indicated she will finish off the year in her position before retiring in December, a decision that is supported by Minister of Health, Josie Osborne.

Loewen suggested that Brown’s impending retirement offers an opportunity for a leadership transition to address the crisis effectively.

“I think when somebody's retiring, you know, it's best to hang up (...) on a high note and say, ‘you know what, I'm gonna empower the next person to do this,’” Loewen said.

“Not trying to fix a massive fire on the way out the door. I don't think that's in anyone's best interest.”

Loewen said she was not placing all the blame on Brown but stressed the need for fresh leadership.

As Kelowna grapples with healthcare and economic challenges, Loewen stressed the need for accountability and humble leadership.

“I believe in humble servant leadership, and I think that there's a lack of that today… there’s no one out there saying, you know what, it’s my bad,” she said.

“We've gotta protect the whole institution and make sure that we don't see more cracks going forward. That's a big thing, and I think that's kind of top of mind right now for us as politicians, official opposition. We want to get some people, some eyes on the ground here and get a plan moving forward.”