Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nurse availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 8, 2024. 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-saving 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 Clearwater is normally open 24/7.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital due to limited nursing availability. Emergency services will be unavailable effective 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5 until 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House or GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel 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.

Dear Community Leaders,    As we look towards summer 2024 with the potential of extreme heat and wildfires, Interior Health (IH) would like to share information and resources that can protect people living in the IH region. Extreme heat and wildfire smoke can cause serious health outcomes in people of all ages. Collaborative planning and action by communities helps to minimize negative health impacts.   Heat and health Climate science projects that summer in the IH region will become hotter, with longer and more frequent heat events. Heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in Canada; even a few days of extreme heat can lead to severe illness and death. While everyone is impacted by extreme heat, certain groups are at higher risk including older adults, people with mental health conditions, and children.    During the 2021 heat dome in BC, 98% of deaths occurred indoors. Heat trapped indoors raises temperatures even after the sun goes down. Without air conditioners or adequate ventilation, indoor critical temperatures of over 31°C can make our homes dangerous, especially during consecutive days of heat. For people who are at higher risk of heat-related health impacts, the risk increases at indoor temperatures over 26°C.    Preparing for extreme heatPreparation can save lives during extreme heat- BC Provincial Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS): 2024 describes criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) use to issue a Heat Warning or an Extreme Heat Emergency. Additionally, many municipalities are developing their own heat response plans. Preparing for extreme heat by developing systems and plans can save lives.   Actions community leaders can take:  Develop a community preparedness and response plan for extreme heat  Prepare community heat messages using trusted information from the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) and/or Interior Health, and amplify heat warnings as appropriate Promote and encourage neighbourhood check-ins during heat events, especially for the elderly and those more socially isolated Extend the operating hours of indoor cooling spaces (e.g., libraries, community centres) and publicize their locations/hours through a variety of communication sources. For rural communities, consider using a local school, meeting hall or other gathering places (including shaded outdoor areas) as a temporary cooling space Extend operating hours and promote availability of outdoor public amenities like drinking water, spray parks, and shaded/covered areas Coordinate with local organizations to provide low-to-no cost access to indoor spaces (e.g., swimming pools, play centres) Consider establishing overnight cooling centres to support vulnerable populations  Promote BC Hydro’s Energy Conservation Assistance Program to support vulnerable individuals; income qualified customers can apply to receive a portable air conditioner installed by a qualified professional Add all cooling centre/space locations to the Community Response Locations Portal; this is a centralized database that is shared publicly through Emergency Maps BC Wildfire smoke and healthWildfire smoke impacts everyone’s health. When exposed to wildfire smoke, people may experience health symptoms such as irritation of the nose and throat, cough, and shortness of breath. Those at higher risk for more severe health impacts include people with respiratory or heart conditions, seniors, pregnant women and their unborn babies, as well as infants and young children. Reducing both short and long-term exposure to wildfire smoke is key to lessen related health impacts. There is substantial concern that prolonged or recurrent exposure to high levels of wildfire smoke causes long-term health impacts like lung cancer or dementia. Research to evaluate this question continues.  Preparing for wildfire smoke and poor air quality As summers get hotter, wildfire activity due to climate change is predicted to increase. While heat is often more localized, wildfire smoke can blow in from other provinces and other countries; poor air quality can persist for days and be unpredictable. Preparing for wildfire smoke and poor air quality by developing systems and plans can save lives.    Actions community leaders can take: Pay regular attention to local air quality advisories and subscribe to and publicly share Smoky Skies Bulletins Communicate messaging and actions for the public to take to reduce wildfire smoke exposure based on the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI); for communities that do not have AQHI data, this map displays hourly average of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) from provincial monitoring network, PurpleAir and AQ Egg sensors During wildfire events, air quality conditions may vary within hours. Stay up to date and download the AQHI Canada app and set up notifications for alerts in your community; encourage residents to download the app Coordinate cleaner air spaces that are publicly accessible (e.g. libraries, shopping malls, community centres, etc.) and publicize their locations/hours through a variety of communication sources  Contact public space operators to encourage and support them in planning and improving their HVAC systems during the summer. The filters that can provide adequate protection from wildfire smoke are MERV 13 or higher and HEPA filtration  Encourage  employers in your community to follow WorkSafe BC guidance to protect workers from heat and smoke related health outcomes While there is currently no formal provincial guideline in place, consider re-scheduling or cancelling outdoor public events to reduce time spent outside when the AQHI is high (7+) or very high (10+) Promote ways for residents to create cleaner air spaces including:  Upgrading HVAC or furnace filters and utilize portable air cleaners   Improving home central heating and cooling system by choosing a filter with a minimum MERV 13 or as high a rating as your system can accommodate  Portable air cleaners and filters can be claimed as a medical expense with a prescription by those with chronic respiratory or immune illnesses Encourage community members to create their own air cleaner for less than $100  Support communities to hold BC Lung DIY Air Cleaner Workshops: a community-based initiative that teaches community members how to build simple devices that improve indoor air quality. Home-made box air fan filters  are proven to clean air space  Consider well fitted respirators where cleaner spaces may be difficult to access For communities without an air quality monitoring station nearby, consider contacting the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. They will work with communities as their capacity allows to find the best solution for air monitoring needs including low-cost air sensors such as Purple Air. Actions Interior Health will take: Support the development of community heat and wildfire smoke preparedness and response plans Share heat and wildfire smoke warnings and broadcast public health messages about the prevention of heat and smoke-related illness Provide public health messages to share through community heat and wildfire smoke response communications Develop and implement IH organizational heat and air quality response plans  Monitor IH clients and patients who are vulnerable to heat and smoke-related illness Provide (where applicable) public health surveillance data from previous heat and smoke events to inform decision making Participate in regional briefing calls with local governments and First Nations to provide public health advice Support municipal staff in accessing resources to facilitate DIY Air Cleaner workshops Refer vulnerable IH clients to BC Hydro for free portable air conditioners Funding opportunities for heat and smoke planning Local Government Climate Action Program (LGCAP) | BC Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy | Eligibility includes initiatives that result in resilience to future climate conditions including preparing risk assessments  Disaster Risk Reduction-Climate Adaptation | Union of BC Municipalities | Funding stream to reduce risks from disasters due to natural hazards and climate related risks including extreme temperature risk mapping, assessment, planning  Community Climate Funding | gov.bc.ca | An all-in-one guide of funding opportunities for climate action projects in your community Of special note If there is extreme heat during an air quality advisory, people should prioritize cooling down. Heat is typically more dangerous than short-term exposure to poor air quality  While fans can help you feel more comfortable, they do not lower body temperature when outdoor and/or indoor temperatures are over 35°C. At that point, fans simply blow hot air over the skin and can cause increased body temperature. When outdoor air temperatures are cooler than indoor air temperatures, use fans in windows to blow cooler air from outside into a room  Preparing for heat, and managing the health risks of extreme heat, must center on those who are socially isolated and living with lower socio-economic status Interior Health is committed to working with community partners in all sectors to protect the health of the population. For more information on heat, wildfire and smoke health impacts and examples of community action, refer to IH’s 2023 Medical Health Officer Report on Climate Change, Health and Well-being.  The IH Healthy Communities Program and Office of the Medical Health Officers are available to support community planning related to heat and wildfire smoke. Your assigned Healthy Communities team member can be contacted at healthycommunities@interiorhealth.ca.   Sincerely, (Signed)  Dr. Martin Lavoie Interim Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Silvina Mema Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Andy Delli Pizzi Medical Health Officer Dr. Jonathan Malo Medical Health Officer Dr. Sue Pollock Medical Health Officer Dr. Sanaz Vaseghi Medical Health Officer

The replacement and expansion of Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home in Cranbrook is another step closer to construction with the selection of Zeidler Architecture for architectural and engineering services and Bird Construction as the construction manager for the project. “Long-term care facilities are a place for seniors and others to not only receive care, but also call home,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “That’s why we’re working to expand long-term care homes and access throughout the province, including the Cranbrook area. This is an important step in securing a future for those who live in long-term care facilities to continue receiving quality care that they need, near their loved ones, in a building that is designed to meet their needs.”   “With the replacement and expansion of Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home, we will have a new, modern care community for our staff and seniors,” said Sylvia Weir, chief financial officer and vice president, corporate services of Interior Health. “Awarding these contracts is an important step in this project that will be increasing access to the range of services seniors in the East Kootenay need.” The redevelopment of Dr. F.W. Green Memorial Home will replace the existing 60 long-term care beds and add 88 new beds for a total of 148 beds on the same site. The new care home will be designed as households accommodating 12 to 18 residents. Each resident will have a single-bed room with a dedicated washroom. Each household will have dining and living space and provide a warm and inviting atmosphere. The new building design takes lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic into account with features reflecting best-practice infection prevention and control standards. “We are taking the critical step to expand the number of long-term care beds and provide people in the region with better access to the help they need,” said Harwinder Sandhu, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services. “The replacement and expansion project in the Cranbrook region will ensure people, especially seniors can receive the care they need as they age, close to their loved ones and community.” Construction is expected to begin next year in Spring 2025, with Phase 1 of the facility anticipated to open in 2027 and an anticipated completion date for the facility in 2029. The work will be conducted in stages to minimize disruption to residents and staff. "We recognize the significant impact this project will make in the lives of seniors in our region and are excited to see the construction of this long-awaited facility one step closer to reality with the awarding of these contracts," said Kootenay East Regional Hospital District chair David Wilks. The capital cost of the previously announced project is $156.5 million to be funded jointly between the Province through Interior Health and the Kootenay East Regional Hospital District. The care community will be constructed, owned, and operated by Interior Health.

More health-care professionals are working in the Okanagan Valley, providing team-based health care to people as a result of the expanded primary care network (PCN) in south Okanagan-Similkameen. “People in the B.C. Interior deserve high-quality health care, close to home,” said Premier David Eby. “Now is the time to strengthen public-health care by building more hospitals and hiring health-care workers, not making devastating cuts. An expanded south Okanagan primary care network means new family doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and more, delivering the care people deserve.” People in the region are receiving team-based care from more than 36 full-time equivalent (FTE) health-care providers, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, Traditional Healers and allied health professionals, including social workers and mental-health clinicians, with more FTEs coming online soon that have been approved and funded. “We are putting people first by making significant investments into B.C.’s health-care workforce and system,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “With the hiring of dozens of health-care providers working directly in the south Okanagan, we are improving access to team-based care for more people, as well as connecting more people to a primary care provider.” PCNs mean that members of the team consult with one another to support a patient with their health concerns. For example, when someone with diabetes talks to a family physician or nurse practitioner who is with the PCN about their health, they can be referred to a dietitian who can support them in learning how to manage their health. That dietitian may also consult with a social worker for counselling if a patient is struggling with their diagnosis. A senior with arthritis can get care from a primary care provider who may then refer them to a physiotherapist. Patients will not have to travel far from home for care. The connection between providers is thanks to the PCN. This collaboration within the PCN team ensures holistic, appropriate and timely support is available without the patient needing to wait and travel a long distance to receive the specialized support of various disciplines. “Both patients and practitioners see the enormous value in team-based care,” said Roly Russell, MLA for Boundary-Similkameen. “With the challenges we’ve seen across the country for people accessing primary care, government support for our primary care network is more important than ever. With the addition of more health-care professionals and expanding the PCN into more communities in south Okanagan-Similkameen, we are making progress to improve access to health-care services, now and in the future.” As of May 2024, 22,558 people have been attached to a primary care provider through the South Okanagan Similkameen PCN overall. Those in need of a primary care provider can register to be attached through the Health Connect Registry. Through the South Okanagan Similkameen PCN’s rural growth plan, team-based primary care was extended to Oliver, Osoyoos, Princeton and Keremeos, as well as the Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Lower Similkameen Indian Band and Osoyoos Indian Band. The South Okanagan Similkameen PCN rural growth plan adds resources to strengthen services identified as high priority and meeting the specific health-care needs of people living in the south Okanagan-Similkameen region. These include: improved access to care for those with mild to moderate mental-health conditions within the primary care setting; better co-ordination of services for families and seniors who are frail, and people with complex health issues; more comprehensive and co-ordinated health care; and culturally safe care for Indigenous Peoples. The PCN is a partnership between the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, South Okanagan Similkameen Division of Family Practice, Indigenous partners, patients and other local community partners. The Ministry of Health added approximately $2.2 million to support the rural growth plan, for a total of $6.8 million in annual funding at full implementation for the operation of the South Okanagan Similkameen PCN. In addition, one-time funding of $3.4 million is also being provided, which includes change management and capital funding. When the South Okanagan Similkameen PCN launched in May 2019, it was based in Summerland, Penticton, Penticton Indian Band and Okanagan Falls with a plan to bring more communities into the network over time. The South Okanagan Similkameen PCN is part of B.C.’s plan to support health-care providers and increase patient access to primary care. There are currently 79 primary care networks, and work is underway to establish them in more communities throughout the province over the next two years. These actions are part of B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, which puts people first by ensuring they get the health services they need and are cared for by a healthy workforce, now and in the future. The strategy focuses on 70 key actions to recruit, train and retain health-care workers while redesigning the health-care system to foster workplace satisfaction and innovation. Learn More: To learn more about the Province's primary health-care strategy, visit:https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010   To learn more information about the Health Connect Registry, visit:https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-connect-registry To learn the one-year update of B.C.’s Health Human Resources Strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/HealthHumanResourcesStrategyOneyearUpdate-December2023.pdf Backgrounders Facts about the south Okanagan-Similkameen PCN Communities throughout the province are coming together to plan and create primary care networks (PCNs). PCNs are local community-based networks of family practitioners that plan and deliver the primary care needs of a community – in some ways this is similar to how school districts work together to plan and deliver education services.  PCNs can include family doctors, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, social workers, midwives, mental-health professionals, First Nations and community providers and others, depending on the needs of the people who live there. These teams will include existing family doctor offices, nurse practitioners, services offered at health-authority facilities, community-health service organizations and more.  Each PCN will offer programs and services to help patients manage their health. Family doctors and nurse practitioners, working with a team of health professionals, will work together to address health and wellness concerns and help people achieve their health goals. Each PCN designs programs and services to best meet local needs, which vary by community and region, while integrating into the broader health system to provide wraparound care. Of the people in the south Okanagan-Similkameen region, approximately 9,000 patients are in the Health Connect Registry and have indicated they are looking for a family physician or nurse practitioner. Their needs will be addressed by the primary care network and associated strategies. The initial approval for the south Okanagan-Similkameen PCN was for approximately 24.0 full-time equivalent (FTE) health-care providers dedicated to the PCN. Through the PCN Rural Growth Plan, the total approved FTE increased to 41.75. As of April 1, 2024, 36.2 FTEs have been hired, which include: 6.2 family physicians 8.5 FTE nurse practitioners 5.0 FTE registered nurses 11.5 FTE allied health providers, including social workers, dietitians, community workers, mental-health and substance-use counsellors, and physiotherapists 1.0 FTE clinical pharmacists 2.0 FTE Traditional Healers 2.0 non-clinical support staff The establishment and expansion of primary care networks mean that many more patients: who don’t have a regular primary care provider, such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner, will be able to get one; will have an ongoing relationship with their primary care provider, which is important for their life-long health; will get access to faster, more convenient care from their doctor or nurse practitioner and the care team; will be provided and connected with a range of appropriate and accessible services and supports; will be informed about all aspects of their care in community; and will know where to go to get the care they need, even on evenings and weekends. What people are saying about the south Okanagan-Similkameen PCN Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health – “An expanded primary care network into the south Okanagan-Similkameen communities connects more people with the range of services and supports they need to access care early and stay healthy.” Dr. Jennifer Begin, board chair, South Okanagan Similkameen (SOS) Division of Family Practice – “As a doctor working in team-based care in Penticton, we value allied health and nursing support for our patients in our clinics. The South Okanagan-Similkameen region was one of the first to hire primary care network positions in B.C. back in 2019 and we are pleased that all of the SOS communities now benefit from these resources with the expansion into our rural communities. We encourage anyone still needing a doctor or nurse practitioner to sign up with the provincial Health Connect Registry and not to call clinics directly as that takes time away from patient care.” Bernice Budz, CEO, Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC – “The Association of the Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of BC is pleased that the knowledge, skills and expertise of the entire health-care team will improve access to health care for people in B.C. through the expansion of the primary care network. We believe that this approach will be pivotal in ensuring B.C. families feel connected to their health-care team and we are excited to see the growth of primary care networks in B.C.”Martin Johansen, mayor of Oliver – “Approval of the Rural Growth Plan and expansion of the primary care network for the south Okanagan-Similkameen is exciting news. More people getting access to health care closer to home is a priority and a much-appreciated investment in our rural communities.” Celeste Keller, registered dietitian, south Okanagan-Similkameen primary care network – “It is great to see how the allied health team works together with physicians and nurse practitioners to support patients in their clinic. It makes for a familiar and safe space for patients, and ensures people get care in a timely manner.”

Interior Health (IH) and the Central Interior Rural Division of Family Practice (CIRDoFP) have partnered to open a new Primary Care Network (PCN) Hub in Williams Lake.  “People in Williams Lake will benefit from the opening of the new primary-care network hub and have increased access to primary care as well as other health-care services,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “With this opening, we are demonstrating our commitment to meeting the health-care needs of people living in Williams Lake and surrounding areas, now and in the future.” “This Williams Lake Primary Care Hub will improve access to primary care for community members of the Cariboo. We have a diverse team of health-care professionals already in place and are working to bring in primary care providers, including physicians and nurse practitioners,” said Karen Cooper, executive director, clinical operations, Cariboo/South Cariboo with Interior Health. “This is an important expansion of services for the region.” In this early phase, the clinic is open with limited capacity and will only accept new patients by referral from a health-care professional or hospital emergency department. This will help connect patients with the greatest needs to appropriate services offered by the team currently in place at the clinic. The clinic will serve as the central facility for existing Central Rural Interior Primary Care Network allied health staff, including a social worker, mental health and substance use clinician, dietitian, and a respiratory therapist, occupational therapist and clinical pharmacist shared between Williams Lake and 100 Mile House. IH is in discussion with an interested physician and is recruiting for nurse practitioners to support primary care services.  Once primary care providers are in place, patients will be matched to the clinic through the Health Connect Registry (details on registering are below). “The Williams Lake Primary Care Clinic provides a centralized hub for allied health to work along-side primary care providers and has been part of our vision for the primary care network from the beginning, four years ago,” said Jill Zirnhelt, executive director of CIRDoFP. “It is a huge win for us, especially now when it is needed more than ever, and is a testament to the hard work and commitment of all our partners involved this work.” Virtual health care at the PCN Hub will be introduced in the weeks ahead and will be one way to improve access to primary care for people who do not have a family physician.  Moving forward, physicians and nurse practitioners stationed out of the new PCN Hub will provide outreach and mobile services to local First Nations communities. “Recruitment of nurse practitioners has been a challenge in our area,” said Connie Jasper, director of health, Tsilhqot’in National Government. “Part of that challenge was not having a broader team of health professionals to work with. This collaborative model addresses that challenge. I think it will help recruitment and support more care for our communities.” People without a family care provider can register with the Health Connect Registry by calling 8-1-1 or by visiting HealthLinkBC.ca. This list is the best way to be matched with a family doctor or nurse practitioner as one becomes available. People can also call 8-1-1 to access non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  About Primary Care Networks (PCN):  Primary Care Networks (PCN) are a collaborative approach to health-care delivery that brings together various health-care professionals including doctors, nurse practitioners and allied health providers like social workers, registered nurses, occupational therapists and more, to provide comprehensive team-based care to patients. PCNs are networks of local primary care providers and community service organizations that collectively meet the primary care needs of a geographic population, aiming to improve access to care, enhance patient outcomes, and address the health-care needs of geographic populations. Sincere thanks to the Ministry of Health, the Central Interior Rural Division of Family Practice, the First Nations Health Authority, Doctors of BC, the Tsilhqot’in National Government, the Williams Lake First Nation, the Ulkatcho First Nation and all of our other partners who have made the Williams Lake PCN possible. Partnership:  The Central Interior Rural Division of Family Practice, Interior Health and First Nations partners from Secwépemc, Tŝilhqot’in and Dãkelh Dené worked collaboratively to establish the Primary Care Network in the Cariboo. Together, we are committed to delivering high-quality health-care services and improving the overall health and well-being of the community through our Primary Care Network.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital due to limited nursing availability. Emergency services will be unavailable effective 11:30 p.m. on Monday, May 27, 2024 until 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House or GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel 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.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nurse availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21 to 7 a.m. on Wednesday, May 22. 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-saving 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 Clearwater 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 7 p.m. on Monday, May 20 to 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 21. 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 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 Oliver is normally open 24/7.