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Interior Health continues to work with partners to stabilize existing services and design a future model of maternity care for Kamloops and the surrounding region. Together we provide the following update: Patients requiring immediate care: Anyone in labour, or experiencing urgent pregnancy related concerns, should always present to their closest hospital, including Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). For information and assistance, patients may call 250-314-2635 to speak with RIH Labour and Delivery. Hospital Maternity Services: Interior Health has secured full coverage of obstetrician on-call services at RIH. Dedicated efforts continue to recruit on-call coverage for low-risk deliveries with family practice physicians trained in obstetrics and midwives. We have full coverage for December and continue to work to obtain full coverage for January. Recruitment: Recruitment of new specialist obstetricians remains active with eight candidates in different parts of the recruitment process. We are pleased to announce two new obstetricians have been recruited and are estimated to start in May 2026. Care options in community: Early Pregnancy Access to Care &Triage Clinic (EPACT): In partnership with the Department of Midwifery, Interior Heath has supported the expansion of EPACT utilizing the North Shore Primary Care Clinic. Two additional days per week (16 appointments) have been added, and plans are in place to add a third day in January. This clinic offers easy access for expectant individuals in the first and second trimester to receive initial pregnancy care including prenatal bloodwork and ultrasounds. No referral is required to access care at this clinic. EPACT provides complete first and second trimester care and supports referrals to another provider for late pregnancy care and delivery, as well as referrals to high-risk specialists as needed. EPACT also supports early postpartum care for mother and newborn up to six weeks following delivery. Together, we would like to acknowledge the support of the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation who funded equipment to support these rapid service expansion efforts. To book an appointment with EPACT, please call or text: 250-318-3861. Family Practices and Community Health Centres: Community family physicians and midwives have increased primary care maternity services for patients from 30 weeks to term in collaboration with EPACT and Supporting Team Excellence with Patients Society (STEPS). Patients are referred to a family physician or midwife when community provider capacity is available. Future Service Model Development: We are working on a new vision for an integrated, team-based approach to maternity care, which supports pregnant mothers and families throughout their pregnancies. This model brings together physicians, midwives, nurses, allied health professionals and community partners to provide seamless, patient-centered care. This future model of maternity services is being developed in collaboration with Interior Health, the Thompson Region Division of Family Practice, providers STEPS, EPACT and community partners. This vision is in the early days as further engagement with providers, patients and key community partners is required before implementing a future model of care. We appreciate the collaborative planning efforts of the dedicated and engaged community providers and partners who are designing our way forward – collectively, we will move forward to support a new model for local care for expectant families. To support patients, a webpage has been developed which can be found here. Updates will be provided to the public as the situation changes.

100 Mile House and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at 100 Mile House District General Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025. Patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time. All other inpatient services will continue at 100 Mile House District General Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week. 

100 Mile House and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at 100 Mile House District General Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 12, 2025. Patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time. All other inpatient services will continue at 100 Mile House District General Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week. 

Starting this week, patients visiting four Interior Health (IH) emergency departments (EDs) may receive care from a physician working virtually. This is part of IH LINK-ED (Local Integrated Network for Emergency Departments), a new virtual care pilot designed to modernize emergency care services for rural communities. “Integrating virtual care into emergency services is a proven approach already delivering results in communities across B.C.,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “By expanding this technology into four communities, we’re supporting front-line staff, helping our health-care teams reach more patients, and making sure people in rural communities can access high-quality care when they need it.” IH LINK-ED introduces a blended model of in-person and virtual physician support for patients needing emergency care overnight. This approach is designed to provide consistent access to emergency care in rural areas and increase work-life balance for medical staff. The four participating hospitals include Lillooet Hospital, Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital (Clearwater), Arrow Lakes Hospital (Nakusp) and Princeton General Hospital.  Care teams at these sites will start piloting the new model a few nights per week, while continuing with regular in-person care on other nights. Full seven day per week implementation is anticipated to start in the new year. “Patient safety remains our key focus, and that is why we continue to approach the modernization of rural emergency services with care and consideration,” said Sylvia Weir, IH president and CEO. “The soft roll out gives our care teams and patients time to familiarize with the new process and share their feedback, making sure everything works seamlessly before we expand to full implementation.”  As part of this pilot, an emergency physician provides overnight in-person care at their community hospital while offering virtual support to up to three other emergency departments (EDs). When patients walk into an ED, they will be assessed by an on-site emergency-trained nurse, who determines the level of care needed.  For mild or less urgent concerns, the nurse will contact the physician working virtually to review patient condition and guide the treatment. Secure video or phone connections may be used.  For critical, life-threatening emergencies, an in-person physician remains on standby in each community.  "Having used virtual care at Arrow Lakes Hospital, I believe other rural communities can benefit from this collaborative model," said Colin Watson, clinical practice educator in Nakusp. Through the provincial Virtual Emergency Room Rural assistance (VERRa) program, overnight virtual physician support has been used safely two nights per week in this community. "The partnership between nursing and physicians is really important to keeping care safe and accessible,” Watson added. “We’re eager to trial a model that eases physician workload while letting us connect with colleagues across the Interior region."  Shared overnight coverage across multiple sites means more sustainable work life and a community of collaboration among rural physicians. Emergency‑trained nurses are supported to work to the full scope of their training, with immediate access to physician expertise when needed. The service also fosters collaboration among rural hospitals, reducing isolation and strengthening relationships between care teams. To follow along the project or share questions and feedback, community members can sign up at https://engageih.ca/link-ed. Feedback from partners and the public will inform the ongoing development of this pilot project.

Celebrating opening of improved neonatal intensive care unit at East Kootenay Regional Hospital Summary: Expanded intensive care unit in Cranbrook now open for newborns 34 weeks and older Modern equipment, private family spaces improve comfort, safety and care quality Fewer families need to travel for neonatal care, strengthening local maternity services Families living in Cranbrook and surrounding communities are now benefiting from better care for infants with the renovation and expansion of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at East Kootenay Regional Hospital. “The new NICU provides modern equipment and a supportive environment so newborns and families can receive specialized care close to home,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “The expanded unit strengthens maternity care in this region and ensures every child has the best possible start in life.” Accessing care in the East Kootenays Previously, many families who needed specialized newborn care had to travel long distances, often to larger centres like Kelowna or Calgary. Upgrading the local NICU means more newborns can receive care close to home. For parents, it means less travel, less stress and more time together as a family, during a vulnerable time. For staff, it means a better, more functional environment to deliver care. And for the region, it strengthens the local health system by ensuring babies can be born and cared for in their community. “The regional NICU in Cranbrook is a significant improvement for our community’s health care,” said Dr. Paul Kahlke, department head, pediatrics, East Kootenay Regional Hospital, Interior Health. “We can now provide specialized care for newborns locally, reducing the need for transfers out of the region. This means faster, more accessible support for families and a healthier beginning for our newborns.” Highlighting benefits of the new NICU The new NICU opened on Nov. 13 and provides: neonatal services for newborns aged 34 weeks or older who are at low to moderate risk of health complications; new, modern equipment for specialized neonatal care; private spaces for parents and newborns, including comfortable furniture and supports for infant feeding and lactation; improved security features, such as controlled access in and out of the unit, as well as an infant abduction prevention system; enhanced infection prevention with dedicated hand hygiene sinks; and additional work and nursing stations to support timely care, improve patient assessment and allow staff to fully utilize their specialized skills. Supporting infants in East Kootenays The project was funded by the Province, the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District and the East Kootenay Foundation for Health. The Province provided almost $820,000 for the NICU. Construction on the NICU began in early 2025 and the unit officially opened on Nov. 13, 2025. All renovations were completed on schedule. “The newly renovated nursery at East Kootenay Regional Hospital will make it easier and faster for newborns to receive high-quality care,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “It also brings greater peace of mind to parents and families, who can now rely on timely treatment close to home. With this upgrade, the support newborns need is here in the community, whenever growing families need it.” The NICU is part of the Province’s work to improve and expand health-care services in the Interior and throughout B.C.   Quotes: Steve Morissette, MLA for Kootenay-Monashee – “The new NICU at East Kootenay Regional Hospital reflects the strength of our community. Families in Cranbrook, and across the region, will now have access to enhanced care close to home, thanks to the generosity of local donors and the support of government partners.” Sylvia Weir, president and CEO, Interior Health – “This is about giving new mothers, parents and their babies the very best start in life. Families in the Cranbrook region will now have access to specialized intensive care close to home, in a safe and supportive environment, during what can be both a joyful and overwhelming time.” David Wilks, chair, Kootenay East Regional Hospital District – “As a contributing funder, we are proud to partner in this project, as it significantly strengthens support for newborns, parents and the dedicated staff who care for them.”  Brenna Hong, executive director, East Kootenay Foundation for Health – “On behalf of the board of directors and staff at the East Kootenay Foundation for Health, we want to thank our donors and supporters from the bottom of our hearts. Because of you, more babies and families can stay close to home and receive the care they deserve.” Learn More: To learn more about the East Kootenay Regional Hospital NICU, watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVzQ5TYUiqY Read original release on BC Gov News

Interior Health (IH) is advising the public of health risks at the Spruce Hill Resort due to contraventions with the BC Public Health Act and Drinking Water Protection Act. Due to food and water safety concerns, the restaurant (including continental breakfast), pool and hot tubs have been ordered closed by IH Environmental Public Health. Operating permits for food and recreational water (pool and hot tub) expired on March 31, 2025. Despite progressive enforcement, which includes public health orders, tickets and action through the courts, IH has confirmed through inspections that the resort continues to operate and there is a current risk to people using these facilities. IH’s recommendation to the public is to avoid using the pool, hot tubs and restaurant at the resort until the operator brings them into compliance with BC legislation and they no longer create a risk to public health. IH continues to monitor the report and will take further enforcement action under provincial legislation to address current public health risk at the resort. Contact IH Environmental Public Health if you have a complaint, concern or question about a potential public health risk at a facility (related to food, water or other amenities). If you suspect you have become ill from swimming, eating or drinking at this resort, contact your primary care provider and local Health Protection office. IH posts current and outstanding enforcement actions that fall within the mandate of Environmental Public Health on our public website.

The first steps of a review of the health authorities have been completed, which included reducing administrative costs, and work is underway to improve efficiencies and redirect savings to frontline services. “People in every corner of B.C. deserve a health-care system that keeps pace with their growing and complex needs,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “That’s why we’ve launched this review last March, to hear directly from the people doing the work and to identify how we can make our system more efficient. While that review is being completed, we’re already taking steps to reduce administrative duplication in health authorities so they can focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality care for patients across the province.” Over the engagement period of the review, approximately 20,000 health-care workers attended town halls. More than 15,000 workers completed surveys in support of the review. While the review continues, the Province is acting on its early findings by bringing together administrative and corporate services across regional health authorities and the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA), including legal, supply chain, finance and human resources. The functions will be delivered through a new standalone shared services organization that supports all health authorities, allowing them to focus more on delivering better care for patients. The new organization will be established by spring 2026. Services will gradually transition to the new organization over time, and as details are finalized. The changes will remove bottlenecks, reduce redundancies, improve supports and create more consistency and co-ordination throughout the system at a lower cost. It will also encourage innovation and the sharing of ideas that strengthen B.C.’s health system. By consolidating administrative and corporate services, PHSA will have a clearer mandate, allowing it to focus on the specialized provincewide services that benefit patients, including cancer care, ambulance services and pediatric, maternal and women’s health. PHSA provides a limited set of optional shared services to the regional health authorities, which leads to duplication when some health authorities do not use them. Establishing a new dedicated organization for corporate and administrative services and making participation mandatory for all health authorities and the PHSA will save time, money and effort that can instead be redirected to patient care. This consolidation will also allow the Province to leverage economies of scale to secure better pricing and contracts, shifting from five separate processes to a co-ordinated provincial approach. It also positions the health system to better support front-line services. The work builds on interim expenditure measures underway to control administrative costs during the review. Since the review launched in March 2025, health authorities have eliminated, closed or left vacant 1,100 positions. Beginning in 2026-27, this is anticipated to save more than $60 million annually that can be redirected to front-line care. Learn More: To learn more about the Health Authority review, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2025HLTH0057-000565 A backgrounder follows.

Please see the attached document to learn more about the look, contamination, and risk associated with the current drug alert.

100 Mile House and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at 100 Mile House District General Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2025. Patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time. All other inpatient services will continue at 100 Mile House District General Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.