Media Archive Blog Topic Listing Page

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from Sunday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley 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.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 to 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or 100 Mile House District General Hospital in 100 Mile House during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 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.  The emergency department in Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable effective from 12 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025 until 6 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House, GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, or Bella Coola General Hospital in Bella Coola during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Cariboo Memorial 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.  The emergency department in Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley 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.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Lillooet and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2025 to 8 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Lillooet Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 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.  The emergency department in Lillooet is normally open 24/7.

People in the East Kootenay region are one step closer to improved oncology and renal health services at East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH) as the Province moves ahead with an approved business plan for a new two-floor building expansion in Cranbrook. “The action we’re taking today will bring better patient-centred care to the East Kootenays,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “This expansion means patients and families can soon benefit from care and services closer to home. I’m grateful for our partnership with Interior Health and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District for this investment in the region that will serve residents for years to come.” The oncology and renal departments will relocate from EKRH and expand into a new two-storey building. The first storey will allow the location of all renal modalities. The second storey will provide spaces that support an increase in oncology services. “Once complete, this upgraded and expanded facility will better meet the needs of East Kootenay residents with more health-care services available closer to home,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “We’re working urgently to deliver the critical health infrastructure people need now and for many years to come.” This hospital expansion project addresses the need to upgrade and enhance the capabilities of the oncology and renal departments at EKRH to meet the 20-year projections for program growth. “Our government is taking action to remove barriers to help people access care around B.C.,” said Debra Toporowski, parliamentary secretary for rural health. “The expansion work at East Kootenay Regional Hospital will mean more oncology and renal care in state-of-the-art surroundings, which will help ease the burden patients are facing.”  This expansion increases the number of renal hemodialysis stations, oncology systemic therapy chairs, and exam and consultation rooms. This expansion includes a new 12-stall patients’ parking lot with a public entrance directly to oncology and renal services. With an estimated total project cost of $59 million, this investment will improve access to high-quality, timely and person-centred care, increasing the capacity for East Kootenay residents to access the care they need closer to home.  A compliance team request for proposal was issued by Interior Health on Dec. 23, 2024. The competition will close on Jan. 31, 2025. Applications will be reviewed and contracts will be awarded in March 2025. The design-build procurement process will begin in July 2025, with design and construction projected to start in May 2026. The new oncology and renal departments are expected to open to the public in January 2029. Work has been completed or is underway throughout B.C. to plan, build or upgrade 30 hospitals or health facilities, 11 long-term care centres and four cancer centres. Quotes: Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health – “The new enhanced oncology and renal spaces will be thoughtfully designed to provide a culturally safe, confidential and inclusive environment for patients and their families. These improvements will result in expanded patient-care areas, state-of-the-art equipment and a modern work environment for staff and physicians.” David Wilks, chair, Kootenay East Regional Hospital District – “On behalf of the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District, we give our support for the development of new and expanded oncology and renal departments at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital. These services will play a crucial role in meeting the health-care needs of our community and provide enhanced access to the oncology and renal care they need closer to home.” Brenna Hong, executive director, East Kootenay Foundation for Health – “The East Kootenay Foundation for Health is looking forward to being part of this new expansion for cancer and kidney care. We are hopeful that this new build will alleviate some of the travel required for East Kootenay residents. It is important that we build for the future and have care close to home, as we all know cancer and kidney disease are not going away.” Learn More: To learn more about capital projects in Interior Health and throughout B.C., visit:https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/capital-projects Read original release on BC Gov News

People who visit Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH) are advised of temporary changes to vehicle access into the site’s parking area and intermittent traffic delays from Jan. 11-12, 2025.   As a result of meeting a substantial construction milestone in Phase 1 of the CMH redevelopment project, the 200-foot-tall crane that has been in place for more than one year will be dismantled. This process will impact how the public, patients and some staff access the building. There is no impact to hospital services. Public diversion for vehicle traffic and partial closure of patient/visitor parking   During the dismantling of the crane components, the access lane, between the hospital main entry and the parking lot, will be closed to vehicle traffic, including partial closure of the patient/visitor parking lot. Temporary closure of this area ensures public and staff safety while the crane is being dismantled.  Jan. 11, 7:30 a.m. to Jan. 12, 5 p.m. Vehicle access lane between hospital main entry and parking lot closed Pedestrian access through hospital main entry remains open Main visitor/patient parking lot remains open, with intermittent traffic delays by flag persons Jan. 11, 7:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. Intermittent traffic delays at entrance to main patient/visitor parking lot access off 6th Ave / Gibbons Street  Jan. 11, 5 p.m. through Jan. 12. 5 p.m. To help guide patients/visitors, signage and flag persons will be posted at strategic locations to alert incoming traffic/pedestrians and direct to alternative locations. All CMH and Deni House entrances will be open and accessible during the traffic diversion and parking lot closures. Interior Health would like to thank the public and staff for their understanding of these changes as this capital investment continues to modernize the hospital in Williams Lake.  

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 23 to 8 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley 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.  The emergency department at Nicola Valley Hospital is normally open 24/7.