Dear Community Leaders, As we look towards summer 2023 with the potential of extreme heat and wildfires, Interior Health (IH) would like to share information and resources that can help protect residents in our region. We know that extreme heat and wildfire smoke can be serious health hazards. While weather events are outside our control, we can work together to prepare and apply what we have learned in recent years. Heat and health Heat events are projected to become hotter, more frequent and longer as the B.C. climate changes. Prolonged periods of extreme heat can lead to severe illness and death, and heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in Canada. People can be impacted differently and some are more at risk than others. Seniors, people with mental health conditions and children are most vulnerable to being harmed by extreme heat. Indoors vs. outdoors During the 2021 heat dome, the majority of deaths across B.C. occurred indoors in private residences. Inside our homes, temperatures continue to rise after the sun goes down and the evening is when indoor temperatures are the highest. This can be especially dangerous when there are consecutive hot days. Being prepared can save lives during extreme heat. We encourage local governments to make plans and identify cooler spaces in the community, both inside and outside, and to help people who may need assistance to set up or move to cooler places during a heat event. Preparing for extreme heat BC Provincial Heat Alert and Response System (BC HARS): 2023 lays out criteria that Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) will 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 - here is an example from the Village of Ashcroft 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 cooled spaces (e.g., libraries, community centres) and publicize their locations/hours through all feasible media sources Provide extended public access to amenities like drinking water, spray parks, swimming pools and shaded/covered areas For rural communities, consider using a local school, meeting hall or other gathering place (including shaded outdoor areas) as a temporary cooling space Consider establishing overnight cooling centres to support populations susceptible to heat Actions Interior Health will take: Support the development of community heat preparedness and response plans Participate in regional briefing calls with local governments and First Nations to provide public health advice Share heat warnings and broadcast public health messages about the prevention of heat-related illness Provide public health messages that can be shared through community heat response communications Develop and implement Interior Health organizational heat response plans Monitor clients and patients who are vulnerable to heat-related illness Provide public health surveillance data from previous heat events to inform decision-making Smoke and 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. People exposed to wildfire smoke may experience health impacts such as irritation of the nose and throat, cough and shortness of breath. People with chronic lung or heart conditions, infants, children and pregnant people, are at higher risk of complications. Steps local governments can take to protect community members from the health impacts of wildfire smoke are: Pay regular attention to local air quality advisories and publically share smoky skies bulletins; notice the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) Create or locate clean air shelters, or cleaner air spaces available to the public (libraries, shopping malls, community centres, etc.) Educate residents about hazards and provide a plan to follow in case of a wildfire and/or smoke Consider re-scheduling outdoor public events to reduce time spent outside in smoky conditions 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 35C. 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 centre 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. The IH Healthy Communities Program and Office of the Medical Health Officers are available to support community planning related to heat and wildfires. You can find your assigned Healthy Communities team member here. Please contact us at healthycommunities@interiorhealth.ca Sincerely, (Signed)  Dr. Martin Lavoie Interim Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Silvina Mema Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Carol Fenton Medical Health Officer Dr. Jonathan Malo Medical Health Officer Dr. Sue Pollack Medical Health Officer Dr. Fatemeh Sabet Medical Health Officer

Unattached pregnant patients in the Kamloops area can now access the Midwifery Antenatal Care Clinic in Royal Inland Hospital to receive ongoing care before birth.  The clinic receives referrals from family doctors, nurse practitioners, midwives and the Kamloops Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre (UPCLC). Patients who have had their initial appointments at the Kamloops UPCLC are automatically added to the referral list.  Patients who have not had a confirmed pregnancy with a dating ultrasound should book an initial appointment with a family doctor, nurse practitioner, midwife or the Kamloops UPCLC (250-314-2256) to be added to the referral list.  A member of the care team will reach out to all patients on the referral list via phone by June 19 to book appointments based on their due dates and other specific needs. Instructions will be given directly to patients in these calls.  To contact the Midwifery Antenatal Care Clinic, please dial 250-314-2782 and select 1 to leave a message. Staff check messages frequently and will respond in a timely manner.  We encourage patients to also connect with Healthy from the Start (855-868-7710) for additional support and information. This is a toll-free, confidential phone line that connects patients with a public health nurse, who will share information, answer questions and help you get connected to resources in the community.

Salmon Arm and area residents are advised lab services at the Shuswap Outpatient Collection Lab at #2 - 2770 10 Ave NE, Salmon Arm will be unavailable from June 5-9, 2023 to allow for a safe and smooth transition into a new space. During this week, patients requiring urgent bloodwork only can present at Shuswap Lake General Hospital between 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Patients with routine bloodwork are asked to kindly wait until the new space opens on June 12. Additional staff will be available upon reopening to help attend to those who had to wait for their routine blood work. The upgraded Outpatient Collection Lab is being relocated to vacant space within the existing building. Community residents will experience a more modern environment with improved accessibility and efficiency of services.

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.

People in Kamloops and throughout the Thompson-Cariboo region are one step closer to having a new cancer centre at the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH). "Today's announcement of the concept plan approval for the new cancer care centre demonstrates our government's commitment to deliver world-class cancer care closer to home for residents in Kamloops," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. "The new cancer centre will deliver access to modern, high-quality comprehensive cancer-care services for patients in their fast-growing community where it is needed." When open, the new centre will help make the B.C. cancer-care system stronger and better equipped to deal with the demand from a growing and aging population by adding expanded cancer treatment facilities and oncology services. "By building a new cancer centre in Kamloops, we are bringing cancer care closer to home for patients and families in the Interior," said David Byres, president and CEO, Provincial Health Services Authority. "We look forward to working in partnership with Interior Health to improve capacity for high-quality, culturally safe cancer care across this rapidly growing region and engaging with local communities, patients, families and Aboriginal partners in this process." Concept planning, which has been completed, is a key part of the capital management and funding process that takes into account the need for investment, including identifying specific needs and how a project can support service-delivery requirements to ensure the specific needs of the community are addressed. Business planning for the new cancer-care centre is now underway to determine the project scope, schedule and budget. The new centre is expected to provide space for: patient arrival and check-in; radiation treatment, including three shielded treatment rooms, known as bunkers; three high-energy radiation treatment linear accelerators (LINACS); radiation therapy planning; one CT simulator; one MRI scanner; an outpatient oncology ambulatory care unit, including 10 exam rooms and two consulting rooms; and staff support, including offices and workstations. Plans are also underway to build a 470-stall parkade to support staff, patients and visiting family and friends. Additional diagnostic and treatment equipment and services may be identified as a requirement for the new cancer-care centre during the business planning phase. The investment in new radiation treatment services in Kamloops will prevent patients' need to travel to cancer centres elsewhere for treatment. The new centre is expected to provide radiation treatment to 1,000 patients in its opening year, which will result in 14,000 treatment visits per year. Some cancer-care services are currently delivered in Kamloops through a community oncology clinic at RIH. It features oral and intravenous cancer treatment, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy and hormonal therapy. The team delivering cancer care through the community oncology clinic provide exceptional care, but the current clinic cannot meet the projected regional demands for service. In addition to building a new cancer centre, upgrades to the community oncology clinic have also been approved. Hospital upgrades will include the modernization and increase in the number of cancer treatment spaces and exam rooms at RIH. As well, renovation and expansion of the existing pharmacy will improve functionality, along with the installation of improved dispensing and automated dispensing replenishing area and storage. The new cancer centre is a part of the 10-year B.C. Cancer Action Plan, which outlines actionable steps to better prevent, detect, and treat cancers, delivering improved care for people facing cancer now while preparing for the growing needs of the future. Quotes: Dr. Shallen Letwin, vice-president of clinical operations, Interior Health -  "People living with cancer in Kamloops and area will soon have access to comprehensive cancer care closer to home. The collaboration between Interior Health and BC Cancer to expand care options will help to improve the health outcomes and experiences of the people living in our region." Sarah Roth, president and CEO, BC Cancer Foundation - "The BC Cancer Foundation and its community of donors is ready and eager to partner with the provincial government and BC Cancer on bringing the very best in research, technology and care to Kamloops via this new cancer centre." Heidi Coleman, CEO, Royal Inland Hospital Foundation - "At the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, we frequently encounter grateful patients who are appreciative of the care they have received, but often share stories about the hardships of having to travel to Kelowna for radiation and other cancer services. This new comprehensive cancer-care centre is a win-win for the whole province. Working together we will make the Interior of B.C. a better place to live." Quick Facts: Fifty per cent of all cancer patients receive radiation therapy treatment. The community oncology clinic at RIH also provides initial consultation and treatment planning with a medical oncologist, supportive care, followup care and patient education. Overall care is provided by an interdisciplinary team, including general practitioner oncologists, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, social workers and dietitians. Contacts Ministry of Health Communications 250 952-1887 (media line) Interior Health Communications 1 844 469-7077 (media line) Provincial Health Services Authority Communications 778 867-7472 (media line) Read the original release from BC Gov News

Ashcroft and area residents are advised of temporary changes to service hours at Ascroft Urgent and Primary Care Centre due to limited physician and nursing availability. On May 20, services at the Ashcroft UPCC will be unavailable for scheduled and walk-in patients. Scheduled patients will be rebooked for the earliest available appointment date. During this time, patients can book same-day access to care at the Kamloops Urgent Primary Care and Learning Centre at 250-314-2256. 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 UPCC in Ashcroft is normally open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nursing availability.  Starting 11 p.m. tonight, May 15 to 7 a.m. Tuesday, May 16, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.  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 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 Clearwater is normally open 24/7.

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