An ongoing shortage of specialist doctors is forcing another temporary diversion of maternity services at a key Fraser Valley hospital, extending a holiday season crisis into the new year.
Latest Service Gap Details
Fraser Health has announced that maternity patients needing care at Peace Arch Hospital in South Surrey-White Rock will be temporarily diverted to another facility. This diversion is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and continue through the morning of Monday, January 12.
The health authority cites a critical lack of obstetrician-gynecologists as the reason for the service gap. This latest disruption follows similar challenges over the recent holiday period, highlighting a persistent staffing crisis.
Root Causes and Regional Impact
The core issue stems from several OB-GYNs recently departing from both Peace Arch Hospital and Ridge Meadows Hospital, which serves the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows area. Fraser Health has attempted to manage schedules using remaining specialists and temporary locum physicians.
Patient diversion is used as a last resort when no doctors are available to provide safe care. While no diversions are currently planned for Ridge Meadows, Fraser Health warns that service gaps could arise there on short notice. They urge all maternity patients to check the authority's official website for the latest diversion information.
Recruitment Efforts and Long-Term Solutions
In an update released on Monday, Fraser Health stated it is "working hard to find solutions" through collaboration with doctor groups at both affected hospitals. The strategy involves pursuing both short-term and long-term fixes.
The recruitment drive is extensive, targeting physicians from across Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and internationally. One new OB-GYN has already been hired for Peace Arch Hospital and is expected to begin work in the spring. Overall, Fraser Health reports success in recruiting six obstetrician-gynecologists to hospitals in the region over the past year.
The health authority strongly emphasizes that there is no plan to permanently end maternity care at either Peace Arch or Ridge Meadows hospitals. The ongoing diversions are presented as a necessary, temporary measure to ensure patient safety until staffing levels can be stabilized.
