OBGYN shortage in southern Alberta “unsustainable”

Typically, she says there are seven OBGYNs that practice in Lethbridge, offering a mix of clinical and in-hospital care.

Alberta Health Services (AHS) confirms that two of those doctors are currently on parental leave and are expected to return to work next year. Todd told LNN that two others recently moved out of province, while another two have closed their practices.

Todd says when fully staffed, they are still quite busy, and the area is generally well-served.

“Here in Lethbridge and across Alberta, the number one reason for hospital admission is childbirth. The number one performed surgery is cesarian section. Last year, Lethbridge and area families gave birth to more than 1,000 babies,” says Todd.

According to Todd, approximately 20% of all pregnancies are considered to be high-risk, 10% of pregnant women need fertility support, and up to 30% of births are done by c-section. All of these require the services of an OBGYN.

A spokesperson for AHS said in a statement to LNN earlier this month that OBGYNs from Calgary have been called in to provide in-hospital assistance for women who are giving birth.

“As has been previous practice, we will continue to bring in locum OBGYN physicians to ensure appropriate on-call coverage for obstetrical patients. We are receiving locum OBGYN support from Calgary, as well as from across the province,” reads a statement from AHS.

While Todd says she appreciates the support that these out-of-town doctors are able to provide, she acknowledges that there is still a significant gap in prenatal care, especially for women that are at a higher risk of complications.

Due to the lack of OBGYN coverage, she says some families are having to travel to Calgary for all of their appointments, which causes additional stress.

“This stress can [contribute] to maternity complications such as high blood pressure, preterm labour, or mental health concerns,” says Todd. “These complications can lead to higher-risk births including inductions, premature births, birth trauma, longer than normal hospital stays, or increased incidents of postpartum depression and anxiety.”

Todd was joined by Lethbridge-West MLA Shannon Phillips and Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley at a media availability on October 24, 2022.

The group spoke about the shortage of family physicians across Alberta, who provide some pre-and-postnatal services as well.

Phillips pointed the finger at the United Conservative Party (UCP), saying that Albertans are facing healthcare challenges because of the decisions the government has made.

“This is not the fault of healthcare workers, physicians, or others who work in our healthcare system,” says Phillips. “It is the fault of a UCP government that has combatively attacked healthcare and pushed the system to the brink.”

Notley says if she were leading the provincial government right now, she would embark upon “the most aggressive physician recruitment program you will have ever seen in this province,” among other steps to boost healthcare capacity.

As of December 2021, the Chinook Primary Care Network (CPCN) reported that nearly one-quarter of people in the Lethbridge area, or 14,098 residents, did not have access to a family physician.

The website, AlbertaFindADoctor.ca, does not currently show any family doctors in Lethbridge who are accepting new patients.

There might be some hope on the horizon, as 17 family doctors are expected to begin practicing in Lethbridge between December 2022 and March 2023.

by David Opinko

OBGYN shortage in southern Alberta “unsustainable”

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