Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nursing availability.
From now until 7 p.m. today, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access emergency 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.
