A new online directory is making the search for maternity care a little easier for New Westminster residents.
Pregnant patients in New Westminster and the Tri-Cities can access a new maternity care feature on the Pathways Medical Care directory, the Fraser Northwest Division of Family Practice announced in a media release. The directory is an online resource for B.C. residents that's designed as a one-stop shop for people to find information about booking visits with family doctors or nurse practitioners in their communities.
Now, with the Find a Maternity Care provider directory, patients can find up-to-date details on how maternity care providers are providing in-person and/or virtual care and how to make an appointment.
"The ability for pregnant patients to find detailed information in their community for their pregnancy needs, such as hospital, language of provider and types of specialized care, will be of great relief for those soon to have a baby," said Dr. Ramneek Dosanj, president of Doctors of B.C., in the release. "Including maternity care providers in the Pathways Medical Care Directory means finding this information is easy, fast and reassuring."
The Pathways Medical Care site also contains a Maternity Hub where patients can find links to maternity care resources in New Westminster and the Tri-Cities — including information about maternity clinics, infant and pregnancy vaccinations, virtual prenatal classes, breastfeeding resources, mental health support and more.
Beyond maternity care providers — which include midwives — the search for a primary care provider is still challenging for New Westminster residents, as B.C.'s family doctor shortage has affected people across the province.
As it stands right now, the release says that nearly a quarter — 24 per cent — of the maternity and healthy newborn population don't have a primary care provider, according to data from 2019/20.
If you're pregnant, you should sign up for the waitlist to be connected to a provider as soon as possible.
Pregnant and looking for maternity care in New Westminster or the Tri-Cities? Quick links
- Find pregnancy care in the maternity care provider online directory.
- Get help with pregnancy, maternity and post-partum resources in the Maternity Hub.
- Get on the waitlist for a primary care provider in New Westminster and the Tri-Cities.
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