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

Starting 8 a.m. Sunday, August 21 to 8 a.m. Monday, August 22, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or Kelowna General Hospital.

During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital.

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

Starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 until 8 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 21 emergency services will be unavailable, and patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital – 550 Carmi Ave, Penticton.

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.

Clearwater and area residents are advised of ongoing temporary changes to overnight emergency department (ED) hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital due to limited nursing availability.

Emergency services will not be available starting at 6 p.m. on Aug. 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 until 7 a.m. the following mornings.

The emergency department will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all these dates.

When service is not available, patients can access care at:

Oliver and area residents are advised the South Okanagan General Hospital emergency department will go on diversion tonight at 6 p.m. until 8 a.m. Friday.

The emergency department is on diversion from:

• 6 p.m. Thursday, August 18 to 8 a.m. Friday, August 19

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

Dr. Anders Ganstal enjoying his favourite winter activity - skiing

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Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued heat warnings starting tomorrow for various regions in Interior Health, including the South and Central Okanagan, North and South Thompson and Fraser Canyon. Temperatures up to 40 degrees are forecast in many of these areas.

Interior Health is reminding people that elevated temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illness.

Senior woodworking students at Clearwater secondary participated in a project to build keepsakes for parents who lose babies at birth

A short lifetime of memories are attached to a project undertaken by Clearwater woodwork students last spring for grieving parents at Royal Inland Hospital.

For the students who carefully handcrafted the beautiful memory boxes, it taught knowledge and skills and also compassion in the face of deep sorrow.

Clearwater and area residents are advised Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Emergency Department will go on diversion for eight nights, starting at 6 p.m. tonight, due to limited staffing availability. The emergency department will be open during the day.