Dr. Jack Kitts Letter to the Editor
Re: Midwifery cuts will lengthen waiting lists, Nov. 18.
The Ottawa Hospital has 13 midwives with full privileges which is more than any other hospital in Eastern Ontario.
In the last two years, three additional midwives were given temporary privileges to complete their training and cover staff on leave. Recently, these three were notified that when their privileges expire, their services would no longer be required. This does not represent a reduction in our midwifery service. Our hospital is committed to continuing to offer this type of care as a choice for expecting mothers.
Growth in demand for obstetrical care over the past two years has been greater than increases in funding to support it. Unfortunately, this gap is now affecting our ability to support other services at The Ottawa Hospital, like gyne-oncology, for example, or high-risk pregnancy care.
Recently, we began discussion with our partners regarding a regional strategy to respond to the growing needs for routine obstetrical care.
Our goal in these discussions is to maintain choice and access for expecting mothers while ensuring that all partners are able to support an appropriate share in responding to this need.
Dr. Jack Kitts,
Ottawa
President and CEO,
The Ottawa Hospital