On April 14, 2016, the increasing number of opioid overdoses prompted the Province to declare a public health emergency. Six years later, close to 1,500 family members, friends, coworkers, teammates, neighbours and friends have been lost to overdose within the Interior Health (IH) region alone.

Inspired by the International Black Balloon Day, on April 14 IH’s mental health and substance use teams and community partners will display black balloons in recognition of this sombre anniversary.

Interior Health has awarded a contract for five new youth withdrawal management beds in Kamloops.

“Our government is working urgently to build a comprehensive and seamless continuum of care and these new youth withdrawal management beds are a vital part of that,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “These beds will help youth in the Interior on their pathway to recovery.”

Name: Patti Ironstand (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Registered Psychiatric Nurse
Years of Service: 11
Worksite: Gillis House
Community: Merritt
Ancestral Territory: Nlaka’pamux and Syilx Nations
Advice to live by: Give to people what you would like to receive.

Clearwater and area residents are advised that the emergency department at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital will be closed from 4 p.m. April 6 to 7 a.m. April 7 due to unforeseen limited staffing availability.

Interior Health regrets this temporary change to normal operations and reminds residents to take note of the following if they require care while the emergency department is closed:

Our social media platforms are a great way to engage with our Interior Health community and share information. Check out these recent posts, and consider sharing them with your friends and family on your own social channels. 

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Like many people who use drugs, Faith turned to illicit opioids to take away pain and hurt. When she realized she wanted to stop using, Opioid Agonist Treatment, or OAT, was key. 

Our family was recently impacted by an emergency, and an aging relative was hospitalized. With ongoing restrictions due to COVID, there were limitations to in-person visits and some family members involved in care live afar. After the acute event was over and our aging loved one was back home, I reflected on how much of our communication and caregiving was done virtually – texting, email, videoconference, apps to feel closer to each other, online booking for transportation and apps designed to help coordinate tasks and scheduling.

Jennifer Thur (left), an Obstetrics Registered Nurse at Royal Inland Hospital, and Jessica Rathgeber, Obstetrics Nursing Student

We’re privileged at Interior Health to support more than 6,000 students who walk through our doors, breathing fresh excitement into our hallways. Preceptorship, the advising relationship between an experienced professional and a student entering the field, serves as an absolute cornerstone of education in health care. 

IH’s dedicated employees spend more than 500,000 hours serving as preceptors across the organization each year.

Ashcroft and area residents are advised of a temporary closure of the emergency department at the Ashcroft Hospital and Community Health Care Centre this weekend due to unforeseen limited staffing availability.

Normal emergency department hours in Ashcroft are currently 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Interior Health regrets this temporary change to normal operations and reminds residents to take note of the following if they require care while the emergency department is closed:

Clearwater and area residents are advised that the emergency department at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital will be closed from 5 a.m. April 3 to 7 a.m. April 5 due to unforeseen limited staffing availability.

Interior Health regrets this temporary change to normal operations and reminds residents to take note of the following if they require care while the emergency department is closed: