Idaho Hospital Halts Labor and Delivery Services Due to Staffing and Political Issues.

Bonner General Health, the only hospital in Sandpoint, Idaho, will no longer provide obstetrical services due to staffing issues, loss of pediatricians, changing demographics, and Idaho's legal and political climate around healthcare. Patients will have to drive an hour away for labor and delivery care. The hospital will continue to provide women's health services at Sandpoint Women's Health and collaborate with Kootenai Health in Coeur d'Alene to provide obstetrical care. Sandpoint Women's Health will not accept new obstetrics patients effective immediately. The decision was called emotional and difficult by the hospital's board of directors and senior leadership.