Susan Brown has hastened her departure as president and CEO of Interior Health following mounting pressure in the ongoing closure of the pediatric in-patient unit at Kelowna General Hospital (KGH).
Brown, who announced her pending retirement last spring, is now focusing on supporting a smooth leadership transition.
Stepping into the interim leadership role is Sylvia Weir, the current chief financial officer and vice president of corporate services.
Weir brings over 25 years of healthcare experience in Canada and the United Kingdom. A press release from Interior Health described her as a values-driven leader, instrumental in overseeing Interior Health’s financial operations, contracted services, and capital planning.
Kelowna Mission MLA Gavin Dew had been critical of Brown’s leadership and led the charge is pushing her aside early.
On social media, he called the move “an overdue step in the right direction.”
This leadership change occurs as Interior Health works to reopen KGH’s 10-bed pediatric in-patient unit, which remains closed due to staffing shortages.
IH said four new physicians have accepted roles in the department, but the unit does not yet have the required number of pediatricians to safely resume operations.
Interior Health outlined several steps that remain ongoing to address the issue, including collaboration with doctors’ groups and appointing a third-party facilitator to make recommendations on strengthening pediatric services.
While emergency care for children continues at KGH, pediatric in-patients are not being admitted at this time.
The organization said it remains committed to resolving these challenges and providing timely updates to the community as progress is made.
