Interior Health (IH) is sharing the independent report and update on actions taken to address workplace and system challenges that contributed to the seven-week pediatric service interruption at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) in 2025.
In late 2025, the IH Board of Directors commissioned Harbour West Consulting and Dr. Jana Davidson—who conducted interviews with pediatricians, nurses, administrators and leaders—to identify opportunities to support sustainable pediatric services at KGH.
“This was a disruptive and stressful period for families, the community and care teams,” said Dr. Robert Halpenny, Chair of the IH Board of Directors. “As IH leadership worked to resume full services, the Board chose to bring in an objective third‑party reviewer to confirm there is a clear, sustainable path forward that reflects positive changes for patients/families, care teams and the community.”
The independent review highlighted areas for improvement including opportunities for collaboration across teams, the need for ongoing two-way communication, especially during times of strain, and clearer ways to escalate issues. Over the past year, IH has been addressing these challenges by rebuilding trust, strengthening communication and recruiting additional physicians to support continuity of services at KGH.
“We are committed to learning, improving and supporting those affected,” said Sylvia Weir, IH president and CEO. “Since stepping into the role of president and CEO last fall, I have been focused on changing how we listen and engage across IH—supporting a culture grounded in open, two‑way communication, accountability and respect. By continuing to act on what we hear, even within the realities facing today’s health‑care system, we can rebuild trust and strengthen the sustainable services we provide.”
IH has identified specific actions in the report, which are in progress or complete, including:
- Prioritizing rapid recruitment: The KGH pediatrics department has gone from 5.6 to 11 full-time pediatricians.
- Rebuilding trust and psychological safety: Senior leaders at KGH continue to work with pediatricians and impacted departments to enhance communication and address growing demands for services. An occupational health and safety roadmap is also being developed to provide a safer, more supportive day-to-day experience for all IH medical staff, including physicians, nurse practitioners, midwives and dentists.
- Strengthening medical staff governance structure: The Health Authority Medical Advisory Committee (HAMAC) recently updated the Medical Staff Rules, a formal document that sets expectations for how physicians and other medical staff work within IH. These updates modernize how medical staff are governed and make responsibilities clearer for everyone involved.
- Establishing a more collaborative region-wide approach to service planning: The newly established Maternal, Newborn, Child & Youth program provides support across IH through integrated clinical service planning and quality improvements. Long-term planning is focused on three areas including acute care community-based services, and early intervention and prevention. Consistent opportunities for feedback from leaders, front-line workers and medical staff is guiding how IH provides safe, equitable and sustainable care.
“Delivering high‑quality, sustainable care requires strong medical leadership and relies on relationship building and partnerships between leaders to support decision-making,” said Dr. Mark Masterson, IH VP Medicine. “We know the experience and expertise of our medical leaders will be a benefit to continued planning and design of services that meet current and future patient needs, while being responsive to the realities of our workforce and health‑care system.”
This approach is reflected in broader work now underway at KGH. In December 2025, IH transitioned its focused work on pediatrics to a broader KGH action plan to guide support to the site across six operational areas including staffing, safety, access and flow, and infrastructure, which includes addressing congestion in the emergency department.
The full report, management response and action plan are available at: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/kelowna-pediatric-care-independent-review
