New Brunswick doesn’t refuse epidurals to patients, but one doctor says health care workers are starting to use them more carefully.
Shortages of epidural catheter kits, used to manage pain during labor and C-sections, have been confirmed in Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba and British Columbia.
The shortage is due to supply chain issues, although not much else is known about why.
The Canadian Society of Anesthesiologists told CBC Saskatchewan it’s not just a problem in North America, and the shortage could become a global supply chain problem.
Dr. Christa Mullaly is an obstetrician and gynecologist, as well as the representative of the obstetrics and gynecology section of the New Brunswick Medical Society.
He said that the Regional Hospital Dr. Everett Chalmers of Fredericton heard about the supply chain problem last week and began creating contingency plans earlier this week.
“We’re just trying to use them carefully, only for women who really need them in labor because they have an illness or they’re not coping with some of the other things that we have available,” she said.
Mullaly said that right now, New Brunswick is in an “okay situation” and supplies are expected to last until a restock in about a month.
Dr. Christa Mullaly, OB/GYN, says epidural supplies at Regional Hospital Dr. Everett Chalmers of Fredericton are fine for now. (Provided by Dr. Christa Mullaly.)
While Mullaly initially believed there would be a full restock, he said later Friday he was told that is no longer guaranteed and the hospital may have to start rationing epidural supplies earlier than planned.
This worries her for two reasons.
First, there are situations where an epidural is necessary, such as if the patient is giving birth to twins or has uncontrollable high blood pressure.
“We always want to make sure we have epidural access for these patients,” Mullaly said, adding that she is comfortable with the current inventory for these situations.
The second reason is more philosophical, Mullaly said: Everyone giving birth should have the right to use whatever pain relief they want.
“So it’s hard to have the face of potentially having to balance that with having to ration or [having] supply issues in the coming weeks,” he said.
Most patients understand, Mullaly says
While Mullaly could not say how many pregnant people are now in the area, he said the hospital does about 1,500 deliveries a year. The numbers so far this year are steady and even rising a bit, she said, leaving the hospital with about 120 deliveries a month.
So far, most women have been “extremely understanding,” she said.
“I think everybody knows we’ve been through a very difficult couple of years for a lot of supply-side things,” he said.
“I think a lot of women say, ‘OK, well, you know, I had my last baby with an epidural, but I was hoping not to have an epidural this time anyway.’
Mullaly wants to reassure pregnant people across the province that health workers are ready to provide the best workplace support possible. He said that his team of nurses has managed to overcome the shortage of staff and all the challenges that the pandemic brought.
“They keep coming to work because they are dedicated to supporting all of our mothers and babies in our community.”
Aside from the supply of epidurals the hospital still has, Mullaly said many other pain management techniques will be available.
“But if epidurals aren’t available, we’re still prepared to try to make sure that everyone definitely has a safe birth experience and a well-supported birth experience.”