Increasing Access to Midwifery Care in NW BC
Calling all folks who support midwives working in the northwest of BC and want to see more of them!
The Prince Rupert Advocates for Midwifery is launching this Go Fund Me in support of Katherine Puchala, a registered midwife who has been working in Terrace for the last three years. In April 2019, after a lengthy application process with many delays, Katherine was denied hospital privileges. All registered midwives are mandated by the BC College of Nurses & Midwives to have hospital privileges in order to attend births in hospital or home settings.
While there is finally a privileged midwife in Terrace, at present Katherine is the only midwife who travels to Prince Rupert & Kitimat. Women in Terrace, Kitimat and Prince Rupert have been receiving pre- and postnatal care from Katherine over the past 3 years, but due to lack of hospital privileges she cannot provide care in labour, regardless of setting.
Currently there are approximately 7 privileged midwives in the NW — 3 in Haida Gwaii, 1 in Terrace, 1-2 in Hazelton & 1 in Smithers. What this means for birthing families in communities like Rupert & Kitimat is that if they wish to have a midwife-attended birth, and they can’t get care from the one privileged midwife in Terrace, most will need to travel to Hazelton (200-300km away), Smithers (260-350km away) or travel elsewhere in the province.
For Indigenous women and families on whose territory we live, a midwife may provide care that is closest to traditional birth practices and some Indigenous women want to have this option.
Katherine is appealing the Northern Health Authority decision to deny her privileges through the Hospital Appeal Board of BC, a quasi-judicial provincial body that adjudicates these cases for physicians, midwives and dentists. Most appellants are represented by a lawyer during this process, but legal costs are expensive and Katherine needs your help.
To date Katherine has been representing herself. Her appeal is set to be heard this fall, and Katherine needs legal help through the summer to structure her appeal and ultimately to provide primary maternity care to birthing families in northwest BC.
Unfortunately, the presence of willing midwives and the obvious demand for their care is not always enough to help with midwifery integration within any region. The Prince Rupert Advocates for Midwifery support Katherine and we hope to see midwifery care available in our community and more midwives working in every community in the northwest. As we work toward this goal, we need to raise our voices and open our wallets.
Katherine's struggle to obtain hospital privileges is not unique; this is something midwives face across Canada. By donating to this campaign, you can add your voice to our call for support for all present and future midwives in remote, small communities in the northwest of BC.
Katherine has contacted a lawyer whose fee is $320 an hour, and our fundraising goal is $25,000. All funds raised will go to pay Katherine’s legal fees.
We thank you for any contribution you can make, big or small. Please help us spread the word! Every share is also a contribution.
To find midwives who are working in Northwest BC, you can search by communityname at bcmidwives.com
If you would like to learn more about Katherine's journey and access to midwifery challenges in the Northwest, check out these links:
https://www.terracestandard.com/opinion/bring-midwifery-to-terrace/
https://www.terracestandard.com/news/choosing-whats-best-for-baby/
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/advocates-push-for-midwives-prince-rupert-1.4935320
https://www.terracestandard.com/news/terrace-midwife-denied-hospital-privileges-at-mills-memorial/