Interior Health CEO steps down, KGH pediatric unit to remain closed

New physicians are on the way, but it won’t be in time to imminently open the general pediatric unit at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).

Interior Health (IH) confirmed today that four new physicians have signed offers to join the pediatric department at KGH, but did not disclose their start dates.

“At this time, IH does not have the required number of pediatricians available to safely reopen the 10-bed inpatient unit,” a release from the health authority explained. “We continue to work towards resuming services and will provide timely updates to the community.”

Along with the update on the pediatric unit, IH also announced that Susan Brown is stepping down from her role as president and CEO of the health authority.

She’ll “focus on supporting the organization in its transition in advance of her pending retirement,” the IH release noted.

The announcement comes after repeated calls from a trio of local Conservative MLAs for Brown to step down or be fired from her role ahead of her scheduled retirement at year’s end.

“You can’t turn around an organization on the way out the door,” Kelowna-Mission MLA Gavin Dew said at a joint presser with Kelowna Centre MLA Kristina Loewen and West Kelowna-Peachland MLA Macklin McCall in front of the KGH emergency department earlier this week.

Brown also recently came under fire from emergency room physician Dr. Jeffrey Eppler about a recent op-ed published by KelownaNow regarding the culture in the pediatric and emergency departments at KGH.

IH board chair, Dr. Robert Halpenny thanked Brown for her "unwavering commitment and service" to the health authority, particularly during the "challenging times of COVID-19 and a global healthcare worker shortage."

“The board thanks Susan for her continued support to Interior Health and availability to advance the leadership transition plan as her successor is identified," Halpenny added.

Taking Brown’s place as IH’s interim president and CEO is Sylvia Weir, the healthy authority’s current CFO and vice president of corporate services.

Weir has 25 years of experience in healthcare between the United Kingdom and Canada, and is also a vice-chair of the Kelowna Women’s Shelter.

“As CFO and vice president, Sylvia led IH’s business support and accounting functions, managed contracted services and was responsible for capital planning and projects,” the IH release said.

“Sylvia is known as a values-based leader and is committed to supporting the delivery of front-line clinical services and building strong relationships and community partnerships.”

IH says efforts will continue to reopen KGH's inpatient pediatric unit "as soon as possible," noting that the hospital remains equipped to support any children requiring emergency care but can't admit patients for extended treatment at this time.

A wide range of initiatives have been undertaken to reopen the pediatric unit, the health authority notes, including a recent joint-action committee with Doctors of BC and the KGH Medical Staff.

More support for pediatricians and better tools and training for pediatric care are two major facets of what IH says it is working to address at the moment.

The health authority adds that it has submitted a formal business case to the Ministry of Health to upgrade the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to Tier 5 status, which is dependent on future funding and resources.