Kelowna General Hospital/KGH Foundation

By Vernon Matters Staff

back on track

Full pediatric service resumption after difficult time at KGH, IH

Aug 14, 2025 | 12:00 PM

Full pediatric inpatient services will resume at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) as of Friday, Aug. 15, following months of interruption due to staffing shortages.

Interior Health (IH) said new associate physicians have recently joined the team and it is welcoming four new pediatricians in the coming months.

The 10-bed inpatient unit at KGH was closed May 26, leading to criticism of senior IH leadership from medical staff and local politicians. Amid the fracturing of relationships, IH CEO Susan Brown retired prematurely.

In a media release Thursday, IH said, in part, it is welcoming three new pediatricians who are joining the KGH team between now and the beginning of September, with an additional pediatrician expected to join in November.

IH also welcomed a new associate physician to KGH in early July who is supporting work in the pediatric unit, and a second associate physician will join the team in September.

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“These new physicians, combined with our existing medical staff, mean the inpatient unit has capacity to serve all pediatric patients in our area who need care,” said Dr. Mark Masterson, Interior Health’s vice-president, medicine. “I want to thank our team at the hospital and staff and physicians throughout the Interior region who came together to support pediatric care during this time.”

IH said it continues to focus on rebuilding relationships with community pediatricians and medical staff through direct engagement, in partnership with Doctors of BC.

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