Five South Okanagan neurologists quit Interior Health

Five neurologists serving the South Okanagan are leaving their positions with Interior Health after being told they would have to provide on-call coverage for the entire health region, Doctors of B.C. says.

The resignations were first reported by Castanet, which said the specialists were giving up their hospital privileges, and were confirmed to CBC News on Thursday, Oct. 22, by Doctors of B.C. president Adam Thompson.

“The tipping point came last month when all neurologists in the area were told that they would have to provide on-call neurological services to the entire health authority region, rather than just their own community,” Thompson said. He said the on-call work would be done by telephone and internet and raised concerns about workload, and that several neurologists had told the health authority the plan was not viable.

In a statement, Doctors of B.C. said Interior Health has faced a shortage of neurologists for years and that the loss raises concerns about patient safety, including the possibility that some patients will have to be transferred long distances for care. It called for a clear workforce plan, physician involvement in decisions about how services are delivered, and recruitment and retention efforts.

Dr. Kirstie McLelland, executive medical director of clinical operations for Interior Health South, said in a statement that people should not hesitate to seek neurology care if they need it. She said the health authority “remains committed to working collaboratively with neurologists across the region.” She said communications during the provincial election period are limited to critical health information.

It is not the first wave of specialist departures in the region. Last October, all obstetricians and gynecologists at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops resigned over workload, and four psychiatrists left Vernon Jubilee Hospital, which Interior Health said was for unrelated reasons. Seven pediatricians left Kelowna General Hospital between 2023 and 2025.

The resignations come days before British Columbians vote in Saturday’s provincial election, where advance voting was down from 2024. For more from smaller B.C. communities, see our B.C. towns page and health news.

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