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Update issued August 3, 3:56 p.m. Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre due to limited physician availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, August 4, 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 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 Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Interior Health (IH) is responding to the potential for flood-related impacts to health facilities and clients in Lillooet due to the landslide into the Chilcotin River southwest of Williams Lake. As a precautionary measure, IH is relocating 21 residents from Mountain View Lodge long-term care home and three patients from the Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre to alternate locations away from potentially affected areas downstream. IH is taking this proactive approach to plan an orderly relocation of our most vulnerable clients who require extra time and additional support during transport. Interior Health will contact residents’ family members directly with more information as the evacuation planning moves forward. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Call centre operating hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre remains open at this time. Anyone requiring emergency care should proceed to the hospital as needed. Interior Health is also working with all community clients to confirm plans for them to have access to the services they need if they should have to evacuate. 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. This is an evolving situation and we are working closely with affected municipalities, regional districts and first responders so all precautions are underway to protect patients, clients and long-term care residents. The Cariboo Regional District has issued evacuation orders for some areas surrounding the Chilcotin River. Residents should watch for updates from the regional districts as the situation in Lillooet and other communities in the area continues to evolve. Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789. We will provide updates as new information is available.

Nakusp and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Arrow Lakes Hospital due to limited nurse availability.     Emergency services will be unavailable from 11 p.m. on Wednesday, July 31 to 7 a.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2024. Patients can access care at Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital in Trail during this time.   All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Arrow Lakes 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 Arrow Lakes is normally open 24/7.  

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre due to limited nurse availability.     Emergency services will be unavailable from 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 28 to 8 a.m. on Monday, July 29, 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 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 Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 28 to 7 a.m. on Monday, July 29.  Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan 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.   The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.  

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 to 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 28, 2024. 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 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 Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 5 p.m. on Friday, July 26 to 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 27.  Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan 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.  The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 5:30 p.m. on Friday, July 26 to 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2024. 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 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 Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The 21 residents evacuated from Cariboo Place long-term care home in Williams Lake on Tuesday, July 23 will be returning home in the afternoon on Friday, July 26. All the necessary supports and infrastructure are in place for the residents to return safely and, barring a significant change in wildfire conditions in the area, transport will proceed as planned. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Call centre operating hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Interior Health continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to our care partners, first responders, community volunteers and local and provincial governments.  Those requiring support are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: Wildfires | Natural Disasters & Emergencies | IH (interiorhealth.ca) Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status  The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours:https://weather.gc.ca/firework/