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 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday, August 3, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, August 4. 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. 

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. on Saturday, August 2 to 8 a.m. on Monday, August 4, 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 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 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. on Wednesday, July 30 to 8 a.m. on Thursday, July 31, 2025. Patients can access emergency care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time.  All other inpatient services will continue at 100 Mile 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. 

Keremeos and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Similkameen Health Centre.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2025. Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital in Penticton or Princeton General Hospital in Princeton during this time.  All other inpatient services will continue at South Similkameen Health Centre.  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. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued heat warnings for multiple areas in the Interior Health region from Tuesday, July 29 to Thursday, July 31. Areas currently impacted include the North Thompson, 100 Mile, Cariboo, Okanagan Valley, Fraser Canyon, South Thompson, Boundary, and West Kootenay. The province has not declared an extreme heat emergency for these regions. With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat-related illness increases.  Everyone is at risk of heat-related illness, but hot temperatures can be especially dangerous for seniors (ages 65 years or older); infants and young children; pregnant people; people with chronic health conditions and mental illnesses; people who work outdoors; and people who live alone or are socially isolated, homeless, or unsheltered. More details about extreme heat, including symptoms of heat-related illness and those most at risk, are available on the IH public website and IH YouTube channel. When to call 911: In cases of heat stroke: loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting or very dark urine or no urine. In general: when there is chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe burns, choking, convulsions that are not stopping, a drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a head injury, signs of a stroke, signs of an overdose or a major trauma. If you have a less urgent health concern: You can call HealthLinkBC at 811 and speak with a nurse or go to an urgent care centre or clinic if you can do so safely. That way, our emergency medical dispatch staff and paramedics will be available for people who need their services the most. There are also online tools at ca, including a “Check Your Symptoms” tool.  Steps to protect yourself, and those around you from heat-related illness: Keep your home cool by: Opening windows when the outdoor temperature goes down below the indoor temperature at night Shut windows and close curtains/blinds to keep cooler air in and the sun out Avoid making meals using the oven For those who quality, free portable air conditioners are available through Fortis BC and BC Hydro.  Important: If you are experiencing extreme heat during an air quality advisory, prioritize cooling down. Heat is typically more dangerous than short-term exposure to poor air quality. Keep your body cool by: Wearing a damp towel or shirt Taking a cool bath or shower Putting an ice tray in front of a fan Using a personal mister or spray bottle Drinking lots or water Lowering your activity level and avoiding intense activities Important: While fans can help you feel more comfortable, they do not work to lower body temperature at temperatures over 35C. Do your best to take care of high-risk individuals by: Visiting them to check the indoor temperature of their home Encouraging them to take cool baths and sleep in their coolest room, such as the basement Invite them to your house if you have air conditioning Never leave children, dependent adults or pets alone in a parked car. Leaving windows open will not help. Keep up to date on weather alerts and information: Download the WeatherCAN app Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) live map  The BC Centre for Disease Control provides a broad range of heat-related guidance, including information on the different types of heat alerts, how to prepare for hot temperatures, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, those most at risk during hot weather and ways to stay cool.   More information can also be found in BC’s Extreme Heat Preparedness Guide.

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

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

Construction has begun on a new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops that will provide people in the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap region with better access to cancer care closer to home.  "This new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops is the single largest capital investment into the expansion of cancer care in the Kamloops region,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “By building a facility equipped with the latest technology designed to meet the growing treatment needs of patients in the area, we're helping more people have access to high-quality cancer care closer to home. This project is part of our broader commitment to strengthening health-care infrastructure across the province.” The centre is being built at the Westlands site at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. Chemotherapy is available at Royal Inland’s community oncology network clinic in Kamloops. Currently, patients travel to Kelowna or the Lower Mainland for radiation treatment. At the new centre, radiation treatment will be provided in shielded treatment rooms with three high-energy radiation treatment linear accelerators (LINACS). Once the cancer centre opens to patients in 2028, it is expected to host 7,500 patient radiation consults and follow-up appointments annually. In its opening year, the centre is expected to provide approximately 16,500 treatments for up to 1,200 patients. This will save patients and their families time, stress and the burden of long-distance travel during care. “The new BC Cancer centre in Kamloops is about delivering life-saving care closer to where people live, and to their loved ones and support networks,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “When people can access care closer to home, we know it leads to better experiences and healthier outcomes. This centre is a vital step toward ensuring people in the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap region receive timely, high-quality cancer care, when and where they need it most.” The new BC Cancer centre will include: Radiation therapy planning including a computerized tomography scan (CT) simulator; Diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); An outpatient oncology ambulatory care unit, including exam rooms and consult rooms; An interfaith sacred space for for patients, caregivers and staff to recuperate and recharge; Staff support, including offices and workstations; and A 470-stall parkade. The project also includes expansion and upgrades to Royal Inland’s community oncology clinic and pharmacy. EllisDon Corporation has been selected to lead construction. Upgrades to the existing oncology clinic will continue, with work scheduled to finish at that site in 2029. The new facility will be operated by BC Cancer in partnership with Interior Health. The estimated cost of the project is approximately $386 million, shared between the Province and the Thompson Regional Hospital District. Royal Inland Hospital is one of two Interior Health tertiary referral hospitals, providing care for people in the Thompson-Cariboo-Shuswap region. It offers services including emergency care, surgeries, mental-health support, medical testing, cancer care and outpatient clinics. The new BC Cancer centre is part of B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan, which sets out immediate steps to improve prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. Quick Facts: As the population grows and ages, the number of people diagnosed with cancer continues to increase. Upgrades to Royal Inland’s community oncology clinic will include modernizing and increasing the number of cancer-treatment spaces and exam rooms. The pharmacy will also be renovated and expanded, with enhanced functionality including the installation of improved dispensing and automated-dispensing replenishing area, along with additional storage. Learn More: To view the original funding announcement, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2024HLTH0016-000162 To learn more about B.C.’s 10-Year Cancer Action Plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HLTH0012-000229 For more information about health capital projects in B.C., visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/capital-projects A backgrounder follows.

Due to potential gaps in maternity department physician scheduling, Interior Health is advising expectant parents and families of potential changes to maternity services at Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) over the summer, beginning July 26. Anyone in labour should go to RIH to be assessed and emergency care for people in imminent labour or experiencing urgent complications will be available at RIH. Expectant parents without a regular primary care or maternal care provider will be assessed at RIH and may be transported to alternate hospitals to deliver their babies if they require specialized care or their care history is unknown. If out-of-community care is required, families will be informed and transportation and accommodation supports will be provided if needed. Individuals with a maternal care provider will continue to receive care through their provider and will deliver at RIH, in most cases. We recognize the significant impact any change in maternity services can have on expectant individuals and families. Our top priority is to provide high quality and safe care to patients and newborns.  For information and assistance, patients may call 250-314-2635 to speak with RIH Labour and Delivery.