An urgent clinic for pediatric patients at Victoria General Hospital is to close next month over what the pediatricians say are “significant workload concerns.”
A memo from the pediatricians to their non-ER physician colleagues said that the Urgent Pediatric Assessment Clinic (UPAC) will close on Sept. 1. The memo, obtained by the Times Colonist and dated Aug. 15, said referrals to the service ended that day.
The clinic was created in January 2019 to quickly match kids with the right specialist and reduce wait times. The pediatrics group said the workload is “challenging the ongoing sustainability of our program.”
In a statement, Island Health acknowledged the pediatrics group has faced increased demand for services in recent years as the volume and complexity of cases have grown. That has created “workload challenges, physician burnout and retention issues,” said Island Health.
Island Health said it has worked with the pediatrics group to address workload and compensation concerns. Together, they have proposed a service model “which will support recruitment and retention and prevent service reductions.”
The Health Ministry has approved an alternative payment arrangement application from Island Health, and the health authority said it’s working with the Health Employers Association of B.C. to begin negotiations for a contract for the pediatricians “as soon as possible.”
“We look forward to ensuring continued service for patients through the UPAC once the final negotiations are complete,” said Island Health. No estimated timeline for negotiations was provided.
Shortly after the urgent pediatric assessment service was created in January 2019, the South Island Medical Staff Association, on its website, lauded the service as a “success story.”
It was created for urgent pediatric patients visiting Victoria General’s emergency department in need of immediate follow-up with a specialist. It is also an educational opportunity for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
The clinic helps to reduce admissions to the emergency department, expedite discharge of patients from the ER by ensuring a rapid follow-up with a pediatrician, and provides consultation services for community-based providers, Island Health said.
In the absence of the clinic, Victoria General’s emergency department will facilitate urgent pediatric consultation.
The memo advises that patients requiring urgent pediatric consultation — within 24 hours — should be sent to Victoria General’s emergency department, where they can be assessed by an ER doctor with a subsequent on-call pediatric referral as needed.
For patients needing semi-urgent pediatric consultation — within four weeks — the pediatrician on call at Victoria General can assist with the referral and triaging.
Interior Health has announced full access to all pediatric services at Kelowna General Hospital, including the pediatric inpatient unit, following a months-long crisis and pediatric ward closure starting in May.
The health authority said it’s welcoming three new pediatricians to work at the hospital between now and September, “with an additional pediatrician expected to join in November.”
