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

From 10 p.m. tonight, Saturday, March 25 to 8 a.m. Sunday, March 26, 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.

More people in Rutland and surrounding Kelowna neighbourhoods will soon have increased access to team-based, everyday health care with a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC), opening in fall 2023 at 150 Hwy. 33 W.

Name: Kristin Lockhart (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Manager, Clinical Operations, Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital, Daly Pavilion, Harbour House and McKim Cottage
Years of Service: 26
Community: Works in Trail and Nelson; lives in Castlegar
Ancestral Territory: Syilx, Sinixt and Ktunaxa Nations

Guest post by Lisa Pritchard, a UBC Dietetics student.

With the cost of food still rising, throwing out uneaten food and unused ingredients is not only frustrating, but expensive. Since February 2022, year-over-year grocery prices have risen more than 11 per cent in B.C., with the price of fresh vegetables rising 13.8 per cent. Yet it’s estimated that Canadians throw away 30 per cent of the food they purchase.

Guest post by Zoe Maika, a UBC Dietetics student

As dietitians, we encourage everyone to eat vegetables and fruit year-round. Fresh fruit and vegetables have long been many consumers’ first choice. But with the price of fresh vegetables up 15.9 per cent since December 2021, you may want to head to the frozen food aisle more often.

Name: Joanne Standish (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Occupational health nurse and safety advisor
Years of Service: 5.5
Worksite: Commerce Court / IH-wide service area
Community: Penticton
Ancestral Territory: Syilx Okanagan
Favourite Quote / Advice to live by: "Our goals can only be reached through the vehicle of a plan. There is no other route to success" - Pablo Picasso

It has been two years since Interior Health registered nurses (RNs) and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) began prescribing opioid agonist therapy (OAT). 

In September 2020, a public health order (PHO) was issued by Dr. Bonnie Henry to enable nurse prescribing with the goal of increasing access to medication-assisted treatment and safer alternatives to the toxic illicit drug supply.

Diane Jules joined the Interior Health Board of Directors in January 2015. Over four terms and eight years, she has brought her insight, experience and leadership to the decisions facing Interior Health. Diane is a member of the Secwépemc Nation, Adams Lake Band and has served her Nation and community throughout the years in a number of roles.

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to a physician vacancy from 7 a.m. Monday, March 13 to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, March 14.

Emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. Emergency department services will be available again in Merritt at 8 a.m. Tuesday, March 14.

The toxic drug crisis disproportionately affects Aboriginal Peoples. But accessing much needed health care continues to pose challenges for Aboriginal Peoples due to systemic racism and the lack of culturally safe care.