Interior Health is advising Clearwater and area residents of upcoming temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital.
Emergency services will be unavailable during the following dates:
- Saturday, July 4 from 6 p.m. to Sunday, July 5 at 7 a.m.
- Monday, July 6 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time.
Interior Health recognizes that these changes may have a significant impact on the community and that transparent notification is important. Our teams remain committed to working to cover these shifts right up to the day of each potential service interruption. If coverage is secured and an interruption is avoided, we will provide an update to the community.
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 811, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.
