Peace Arch Hospital maternity unit closed over New Year’s
The Peace Arch Hospital maternity unit closed over New Year’s adds fresh stress for families already navigating holiday schedules and winter storms. Fraser Health says the unit will go on diversion from Monday, Dec. 29 at 8 a.m. until Thursday, Jan. 1 at 8 a.m. During that time, anyone in labour will be sent to other hospitals in the region.
Health officials link the closure to a persistent shortage of obstetrician‑gynecologists at Peace Arch. They say the decision aims to keep mothers and babies safe by making sure enough specialists are on hand where deliveries take place. Yet for local families, it still means longer drives, unfamiliar wards and last‑minute changes to carefully made birth plans.
How diversion works for expectant parents
Fraser Health is asking pregnant patients not to head straight to Peace Arch during the diversion window. Instead, they should call the hospital’s maternity unit first. Staff will advise which site can provide care, whether that is Surrey Memorial, Langley Memorial, Royal Columbian or another Fraser Health hospital.
In an emergency, the advice remains the same as always: call 9‑1‑1. Paramedics will transport patients to the most appropriate facility based on capacity and urgency. However, for many parents in White Rock and South Surrey, the Peace Arch Hospital maternity unit closed over New Year’s means extra travel time and uncertainty at a moment that is already emotional and intense.
Staffing crisis behind the holiday closures
The New Year’s diversion is part of a larger pattern this holiday season. Both Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows hospitals have faced rolling maternity shutdowns as Fraser Health struggles to fill OB‑GYN shifts. Officials describe the situation as “dynamic,” with coverage changing week to week.
Fraser Health says it continues to recruit obstetrician‑gynecologists for both hospitals. One new specialist has signed on for Peace Arch and is expected to join the team in spring 2026. That offers some hope for long‑term stability, but it does little for parents scheduled to deliver in the coming days.
Regional response and community concerns
To soften the impact, Fraser Health says it is working with local Divisions of Family Practice and OB‑GYN groups. The goal is to maintain reliable maternity care for families in the White Rock–South Surrey and Maple Ridge–Pitt Meadows areas, even if births must occur at different hospitals.
Still, every new notice that the Peace Arch Hospital maternity unit closed over New Year’s prompts fresh frustration from residents who expected a full‑service community hospital. Advocates worry that repeated diversions may push some families to skip prenatal care or delay heading to hospital when labour starts, especially if transportation or childcare is a barrier.
Where families can find up‑to‑date information
Fraser Health has launched an online information page that tracks temporary maternity diversions at Peace Arch and Ridge Meadows. The site lists current closure dates, affected hospitals and instructions for patients. Officials urge families to check the page frequently, as details may change if additional staff become available or new gaps appear.
For now, though, one thing is clear: the Peace Arch Hospital maternity unit closed over New Year’s is another reminder of a strained health system where staffing levels, not community need, often decide where babies are born.
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