Northern expectant mothers will have to continue to drive longer to either Prince Albert or The Pas to deliver their babies.

This has been the normal since November when the Flin Flon hospital stopped the regular service as it no longer had an obstetrician available at all hours.

The hospital informed it did not feel safe to continue to offer baby deliveries.

Now, the Sask. government says Manitoba has halted the recruitment of an obstetrician to Flin Flon.

“Manitoba Health has undertaken a review of all maternal care in Manitoba, we have not yet learned the results of the review due to the timing of the Manitoba provincial election. The suspension of obstetrical services will be revisited once the review has been completed,” said Matthew Glover, Sask. Cabinet communications spokesperson.

“Manitoba’s Northern Health Region suspended obstetric services at the Flin Flon General Hospital as it could not ensure reliable, predictable and sustainable obstetrical delivery service in Flin Flon due to lack of consistent obstetrical coverage since the departure of Flin Flon’s lone obstetrician.”

Glover said the issue of the lack of service was not due to a funding issue, but a loss of personnel.

A timeframe was not provided as to when or if obstetrical services will be re-instated to the Flin Flon hospital.

(Photo: Flin Flon hospital.)