This will likely come as sad news to women in Squamish, especially expectant or new moms.
Squamish Hospital’s obstetrician-gynecologist, Dr. Kim MacDonald is leaving the district.
He has accepted a position elsewhere and will be leaving Vancouver Coastal Health in November, according to Carrie Stefanson, public affairs leader with the health authority.
“We are sorry to see Dr. MacDonald leave Squamish and certainly appreciate the good work he has done for patients in the Sea to Sky region,” she said in an email to The Chief.
When he arrived in Squamish in January 2016, MacDonald launched a new maternity program that meant many local women no longer had to travel to Vancouver for treatment of gynaecological issues or to give birth.
Squamish birthing stats went from an average of 200 to 220 births a year at Squamish Hospital to between 350 to 370 in 2017, MacDonald said when interviewed last year.
There are plans to replace the position held by MacDonald.
“OB-GYN coverage is in place, and women requiring care will receive it,” Stefanson said, later confirming the services will remain in Squamish.
MacDonald refused to comment for this story and Stefanson couldn't elaborate on reasons for his departure.
A July 13 memo from Vancouver Coastal Health directed to the staff at Squamish General Hospital and leaked to The Chief, implies there are some issues with working conditions within the perinatal program at the hospital.
“There have been recently concerns [sic] expressed re disrespectful behaviour in the workplace and in communications between team members from multiple fronts. Concerns have also been expressed about personal safety and career aspirational goals for many providers.”
Vancouver Coastal Health confirmed the authenticity of the memo.
The document, titled “Recent concerns in Squamish Perinatal program,” goes on to say that a quality review will be conducted by an internal VCH regional perinatal program team in collaboration with an "expert" family physician who practices maternity care.
The timeline for the review is not outlined in the document.
The memo also reminds employees of the importance of a culture of respectful conduct in the workplace and includes examples of respectful versus disrespectful conduct.
It also outlines the rapidly growing community in Squamish and “increasing demands on health care for the community and increased expectations of the types and quality of services which, particularly in maternity, should reflect the care expectations of any urban provisioning service.”
