The Rathwell family never imagined that accessing pediatric care would prevent them from returning home to the Okanagan. After welcoming their son Knox, who was born with congenital heart defects requiring specialized care, they’ve found themselves in a painful limbo – unable to leave Calgary because the services their child needs simply don’t exist where they want to raise their family.
“We want to go home,” says Brittany Rathwell, cradling Knox in her arms during our video call. “But we can’t risk moving somewhere that doesn’t have the pediatric specialists he needs to survive and thrive.”
Knox, now six months old, has undergone two open-heart surgeries with more interventions expected in his future. His condition requires ongoing monitoring by pediatric cardiologists, specialists in short supply throughout British Columbia’s Interior.
The Rathwells’ predicament highlights a healthcare gap affecting thousands of families across the Okanagan Valley, where pediatric specialty services have failed to keep pace with the region’s explosive population growth. While Kelowna General Hospital serves as the Interior’s primary healthcare hub, families requiring specialized pediatric care often find themselves traveling to Vancouver or even out of province.
Dr. Marie-Noelle Trottier-Boucher, a pediatrician practicing in Kelowna, confirms this reality has become increasingly common. “We’re seeing young families move here, not realizing the limitations in pediatric specialty care until they need it,” she explains. “Then they face impossible choices – relocate, travel constantly for appointments, or fight for referrals to already overwhelmed specialists.”
According to data from the BC Pediatric Society, the Interior Health region has approximately 40% fewer pediatric specialists per child than the provincial average. The shortage spans multiple specialties including cardiology, neurology, and developmental pediatrics.
For Knox’s father Tom, the situation feels particularly frustrating. “We’ve built our lives in the Okanagan. Our support network, our businesses, our community – it’s all there,” he says. “But we’re essentially being told that if we want our son to have access to the medical care he needs, we can’t come home.”
The issue extends beyond the Rathwells. Last year, Interior Health reported a 28% increase in pediatric patients being transferred out of region for specialized care compared to five years ago. These transfers create significant financial and emotional burdens for families already navigating complex medical situations.
Sarah Desrosiers, founder of Okanagan Families for Healthcare Access, has been documenting these stories. “We’ve heard from over 200 families in the past year alone who are either separating their families, with one parent and child living near specialized care while others remain in the Okanagan, or making untenable commutes for vital appointments,” she tells me over coffee at a Kelowna café.
Her organization began as a Facebook group where parents shared resources and frustrations. It has evolved into an advocacy network pushing provincial health authorities to address the region’s pediatric care desert.
The roots of this shortage are multifaceted. Historically, specialized pediatric services in British Columbia have been concentrated in Vancouver and Victoria. As populations have shifted inland, healthcare infrastructure hasn’t kept pace. Recruiting specialists to regions outside major metropolitan centers presents challenges, though examples from other provinces suggest solutions exist.
Interior Health acknowledges the gaps. In a statement, they noted: “We recognize the challenges facing families requiring specialized pediatric care and are actively working to expand services. Recent recruitment efforts have added two developmental pediatricians to the region, with active searches underway for additional specialists.”
However, for families like the Rathwells, these incremental improvements offer little immediate relief. “Every month that passes is another month Knox grows without being surrounded by his extended family,” Brittany says. “It’s another month we’re paying for housing in two cities. It’s another month we’re putting our lives on hold.”
The Canadian Paediatric Society has identified regional disparities in pediatric care access as a growing national concern. Their 2023 report “Children’s Health Across Canada” noted that while 21% of Canadian children live in rural or remote communities, only 8% of pediatricians practice in these areas.
Dr. Glen Ward, a pediatrician who practices in both Vernon and Vancouver, believes the solution requires rethinking how specialized care is delivered. “We need hybrid models – specialists who might be based in larger centers but provide regular clinics in smaller communities, supported by technology for virtual follow-ups,” he suggests. “The pandemic showed us this can work.”
Some families have found creative workarounds. The Maliks of Vernon coordinate their son’s epilepsy care through a combination of telemedicine with BC Children’s Hospital specialists and local physicians willing to consult with the Vancouver team. “It’s not perfect,” admits Farrah Malik. “We still travel to Vancouver three times a year, but it’s better than moving our entire family away from our support network.”
For Knox Rathwell, the path forward remains uncertain. His parents continue weighing impossible options – remain separated from their community or risk gaps in their son’s critical care.
As our interview concludes, Brittany gazes at Knox, who’s fallen asleep in her arms. “We just want what every parent wants – the best possible life for our child. Right now, that means staying near his medical team. But our hope is that someday soon, the Okanagan will be able to support children like Knox, so families don’t have to choose between healthcare and home.”
When I visited the Okanagan Valley last month, I passed countless new housing developments filled with young families. Each represents potential patients who might one day discover, as the Rathwells did, that the region’s pediatric healthcare infrastructure hasn’t grown alongside its population. Until that changes, families will continue facing impossible choices about where to call home.
