An independent review by Harbour West Consulting confirms that the pediatric service disruption at Kelowna General Hospital in 2025 was years in the making. Physicians had voiced concerns over increasing workload pressures long before the closure.
The report indicates broken trust and deteriorating relationships between Interior Health (IH) and its physicians led to a wave of resignations, crippling the department's ability to provide services. In May 2025, the pediatric ward closed for seven weeks due to these challenges.
Dr. Adam Thompson, president of Doctors of B.C., emphasized the missed opportunity for IH to proactively address these issues before they escalated into a crisis.
IH's leadership has stated a commitment to rebuilding trust and improving communication with hospital staff. However, concerns remain, with MLA Gavin Dew highlighting ongoing issues across the health region.
Though steps are being proposed to rectify dysfunction, Dew insists substantial reform is necessary throughout the organization.