Maternity clients in Quesnel and the surrounding areas are now being supported by a team of care providers at the newly opened Quesnel Maternity Clinic, located at GR Baker Hospital.
“Receiving consistent maternity care close to home makes a huge difference for pregnant people,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “That’s why we are building a seamless system where team based, culturally safe perinatal care is accessible to everyone, no matter where they live. This new clinic will ensure that a team of medical practitioners is available to support the entire cycle of a patient’s health care needs – from conception through the post-natal period, strengthening healthcare for families in the region.”
The maternity clinic team aims to provide a culturally safe, centralized space for comprehensive perinatal services, facilitating better care coordination and access to services in the community. The clinic offers integrated primary maternity care with wrap-around interprofessional supports to perinatal clients and families in the community.
“The ultimate goal of this initiative is to establish consistent health care access and coordination for pregnant clients supported by Quesnel Health Services teams and providers,” said Amber Wentzel, Northern Health Maternity Clinic Implementation Lead. “We envision a “one-stop shop” for pregnant people for all their health care needs, throughout their pregnancy.”
The newly established clinic’s team-based shared practice will include physicians, nurses, nurse practitioner, social worker and mental health clinician, chronic disease management, virtual dietician services, and virtual lactation services. Services – provided in-person, virtually or both – will span patients’ health care needs from conception to delivery and through the post-natal period for the first six weeks of life.
"It is so important that all people in British Columbia are able to access a well-rounded healthcare system, whether they live in the city or one of our many rural communities," said Debra Toporowski, Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health. "The opening of this maternity clinic means that families in Quesnel and surrounding areas can receive high quality maternal care at all stages of their journey without having to travel far from home."
The new Quesnel Maternity Clinic is located on the 1st floor of GR Baker Hospital (543 Front St) and is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 am to 4:00 pm. New maternity patients can be referred by their primary care provider, or they can contact the clinic to self-refer.