(PHOTO CREDIT – Kalen Jones) Clearwater leaders got together last summer to celebrate the resilience of their physicians. Front row (L-R):  Past Mayor John Harwood, Coun. Shelley Sim; Dr. Sandra Okezue; MP Frank Caputo; Yellowhead Community Services Vice Chair Shirley Frost; Coun. Barry Banford; Coun Lucy Taylor; Medical student Anmol Mattu; and Dr. Kayode Bamigboje; Back row (L-R):  CAO John Thomas; Obi Okezue; regional district director Carol Schaffer; Mayor Merlin Blackwell and Coun. Bill Haring.

As I mark my fifth year as Board Chair of Interior Health (IH), I reflect on the highlights and challenges of 2022. Undoubtedly, times have been difficult for many people in the Interior, and especially tough on health-care workers. Our staff experienced the pressures to organize and deliver care in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, respond to the toxic drug crisis, and handle an unusually early and more powerful respiratory virus season.

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

View more toxic drug, environmental, and COVID-19 alerts

The Cranbrook Urgent & Primary Care Centre (UPCC) is marking one year of expanded access to services and team-based health care in the community.

Between Dec. 8, 2021, and Oct. 31, 2022, there have been 25,095 appointments provided, and 6,522 unique patients have been served at this location.

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to limited physician availability.

Starting at 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 20, 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 Nicola Valley Hospital.

The holiday season includes many cherished moments like festive light displays, classic carols on the radio, and visits with friends and family. But the holidays can also be mentally draining depending on your circumstance.

Read on to learn 10 ways you can take care of yourself and your mental health this holiday season. 

New Denver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre due to limited physician availability.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at the Arrow Lakes Hospital at 97 1st Ave. NE, Nakusp.

People in the community who need care due to life-threatening emergency (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. 

Merritt and area residents are advised that effective 1 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 20, emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital will resume as normal.  

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.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) due to limited physician availability.

From midnight to 8 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 19, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital.

During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Ashcroft and area residents are advised of temporary changes to hours at the Ashcroft Urgent and Primary Care Centre (UPCC) due to limited nursing availability.

On Sunday, Dec. 18, services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital at 311 Columbia Street in Kamloops.

Anyone 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 Ashcroft UPCC is normally open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. seven days a week.