The maternity ward at Ridge Meadows Hospital reopened on March 23, 2026, after a five-day closure that forced families from Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, to travel to other cities for care. This 120-hour shutdown was the sixth time the unit has closed this year and the seventh closure for the hospital since December 1, 2025.
According to the Fraser Health Authority, the service disruptions are happening because several pregnancy and childbirth specialists unexpectedly left their jobs last year. This has left the hospital without enough doctors to cover all shifts, requiring some patients to be sent to facilities in White Rock or Surrey.
Lawrence Mok, the MLA for Maple Ridge East, criticized the closures and stated that expectant mothers should not have to worry about being turned away from their local hospital. Mok said that forcing families to travel to other communities during such an important time is unacceptable for local residents.
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of B.C. has called the staffing situation a crisis, though B.C. Health Minister Josie Osborne says the diversions are a safety measure. The provincial government has hired over 400 healthcare workers from the United States over the last year and says that planning for doctor shifts is done weeks or months in advance.
Health officials have noted that a pay gap may be contributing to the shortage of specialists, as procedures for female patients are often paid about 26 to 27 percent less than procedures for male patients. While six new specialists have been hired for the region recently, none have been specifically placed at the hospital serving Pitt Meadows yet.
