TERRACE, B.C. – Skeena MLA Claire Rattée is lambasting the provincial government over an impending maternity care crisis in the North, warning that families will be forced to shoulder significant hidden costs as a specialist shortage forces some pregnant women to travel out of the region for care.
The criticism comes in response to a public notice from the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) which announced that a shortage of obstetrical specialists will require some high-risk pregnant patients to be transferred to other facilities starting in August 2025.
In a social media post Monday afternoon, Rattée highlighted a critical issue for northern families that was not addressed in the hospital’s notice.
“While the mother’s travel costs may be covered, spouses, children, and support people are not—leaving families to shoulder the financial burden,” Rattée wrote.
She framed the situation as another example of a failing healthcare system that disproportionately affects those living outside the Lower Mainland.
“Once again, rural and Northern B.C. is being punished for its geography,” she stated. “This is what ‘GoFundMe British Columbia’ looks like in real time. This system is collapsing and British Columbians are paying the price. We deserve better.”
The MLA’s comments point to the significant financial and logistical challenges northern families face when medical transfers are required. The costs of last-minute travel, accommodation, food, and lost wages for a spouse or support person, in addition to arranging childcare for other children, can be overwhelming for families during an already stressful medical situation.
The original notice from UHNBC confirmed that its Labour and Delivery Department will remain open 24/7, but that gaps in specialist coverage for high-risk cases would necessitate the transfers. Rattée concluded her post with the hashtags #healthcarecrisis and #NDPfailures, making it clear that she holds the current government responsible for the growing gaps in northern healthcare.
