Kelowna pauses pediatric unit

May 22, 2025 | 9:43 AM

Kelowna General is pausing inpatient pediatric care starting Monday due to a doctor shortage.

The hospital has just six pediatricians – half of what’s needed – and over 100 shifts between now and early July are unfilled.

“The 10-bed inpatient unit at Kelowna General Hospital will close due to limited physician availability,” said Dr. Hussam Azzam, Interior Health’s executive medical director of community and maternity, in a statement Wednesday night.

The change is intended to be temporary and to “help address gaps in scheduling,” Azzam said.

“For patient safety, IH will be proceeding with a service disruption to the 10-bed inpatient general pediatrics unit starting May 26 and continuing for at least six weeks,” the statement reads.