Local mothers with newborns to be attached to family doctors

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Mothers leaving the hospital with newborn babies will now be attached to family doctors within the community.

Northern Health Chief Operating Officer for the northeast, Angela De Smit, said there is a roster of physicians interested in taking on new moms and babies.

Northern Health reported multiple factors as to why this wasn’t an option before — the lack of physicians being the main reason.

The number of babies being born was also a reason, as Fort St. John previously had the country’s highest birth rate per capita.

In 2022, Fort St. John had seven fewer births than Prince George, a city four times the population, according to Northern Health.

De Smit also mentioned that the health authority is aware of the significant amount of residents still in need of a family doctor and continues to recruit for the vacant positions.