Expectant mothers will routed away from Maple Ridge’s hospital starting tomorrow (May 21).
Due to a gap in obstetrician-gynecologist coverage at Ridge Meadows Hospital, a maternity diversion will be in place from Thursday, May 21 at 8 a.m. until Monday, May 25 at 8 a.m.
Fraser Health advises that if you are in labour or have a pregnancy concern, please call the maternity unit at 604-463-4111 before going to the hospital, and staff will direct you to the appropriate hospital for care. Those with urgent health concerns should call 911.
There have been more than 10 periods of maternity diversion at Ridge Meadows Hospital in the past six months, each lasting several days.
The health authority says it is recruiting ob-gyns to fill positions in both Maple Ridge and White Rock, where Peace Arch Hospital has also had maternity diversions.
On the Fraser Health Facebook page, a person asked: “… is there a solution in sight or is this just the new norm now, that it’s acceptable to be closing multiple hospitals to births every Thursday till Tuesday for eternity?”
The answer from Fraser Health: “We are working hard to recruit obstetrician-gynecologists to Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows Hospitals, using national and international recruitment to fill positions as quickly as possible. We are pleased to share that we have hired one physician at Peace Arch Hospital who is expected to join the team at the beginning of May 2026. In addition, we are currently interviewing candidates for two additional maternity positions at Peace Arch Hospital.”
For more information, see fraserhealth.ca