The maternity unit at White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital will temporarily close its doors for the third time in under a month this week.

From Thursday, Jan. 8, at 7 a.m. until Monday, Jan. 12, at 8 a.m., expectant parents will be diverted to another care facility.

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Fraser Health says the diversions are due to an ongoing shortage of OBGYNs. The health authority has been warning of potential shortages across Ridge Meadows and Peach Arch hospitals since early December.

Thursday’s will be the third, and longest closure at Peace Arch Hospital since Dec. 22. Meanwhile, Ridge Meadows Hospital’s maternity unit diverted patients for 96 hours from Dec. 18 to Dec 22.

“If you are in labour or have a pregnancy concern, please call the Maternity Unit first. Our staff will direct you to the appropriate hospital for care,” said Fraser Health in a post to social media.

Its website says the health authority has recruited six OBGYNs to its hospitals in the region over the past year, and is working to recruit more and address service gaps.

“We are pleased to share that we have hired one physician at Peace Arch Hospital who is expected to join the team in Spring 2026.”

The health authority says the timing of future diversions is “dynamic” and may be announced on short notice in reaction to unexpected absences or doctors calling in sick.

Dr. Robert Carruthers, president of the Consultant Specialists of BC, a group that advocates for access to specialist care in the province, says the closure is not surprising.

“There just aren’t enough OBGYNs to cover the maternity services in the province. And this is a very difficult time, both to be a patient and needing these services and also to be an obstetrician who’s trying to meet the needs of British Columbians,” Carruthers told 1130 NewsRadio.

“And ultimately, we’re just going to see more of this as we don’t have quite enough obstetricians to cover what needs to be covered.”

He says the closures are symptomatic of a “much broader problem” as B.C.’s population grows and ages, demanding more specialist care.

South Surrey-White Rock MLA and interim BC Conservative Leader Trevor Halford says he’s tired of hearing about physician shortages.

“This is unacceptable. And the problem is that the doctors have been signalling that this is going to happen for months, if not years,” said Halford.

He says the governing BC NDP needs to listen to frontline workers and doctors, and recruit more health-care workers as soon as possible.

“We’ve talked about the numerous emergency room closures we’re seeing, not just in the Lower Mainland, but across this province. So, people getting access to adequate health care is not happening here in British Columbia, and that is the new norm.”