Baby delivery continuing in Bonnyville until October

Locums have been found as deadline loomed

Expecting parents in Bonnyville will not have to travel out of town to have their baby delivered, at least until October as the Bonnyville Primary Care Network have found obstetrical coverage.

Dr. T. van Deventer, obstetrical lead in Bonnyville, said in a written statement on Monday that 24-hour coverage will remain in place, which was threatening to end July 11.

However, the long-term solution of filling that obstetrics position permanently hasn’t arrived yet, said Bonnyville doctor Travis Webster, as no one has applied.

“We still don’t have physicians, resident physicians, people who are moving here to do this. But we’ve managed to find enough local coverage to get us through to October,” said Dr. Travis Webster.

“We’ll continue to look, but we’re hopeful that, we’re always hopeful that we’ll manage. As I say, Dr. van Deventer has been doing a fantastic job of just getting these locums here and making sure that service is covered.”

Locums, physicians filling that role temporarily, will work in the PCN Obstetrical Program at the Bonnyville Medical Clinic, which will continue offering deliveries and C-sections emergency, plus primary and postpartum care.

They will still continue to offer primary obstetrical and postpartum care to prenatal patients as well as deliveries and emergency obstetrical assessment accepted.

“It’s always our aim to maintain services at all times. But sometimes there’s things beyond our control and recruitment is one of those difficult things that often can be beyond our control.

Historically, Bonnyville has done 300 deliveries, estimated Webster.