Name: Diana Heighes (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Registered Nurse (RN)
Length of Service: 35 years
Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital Day Care Surgery
Community: Barnhartvale
Ancestral Territory: Secwépemc
Favourite Quote / Advice to Live By: Equity for everyone.

People in Nelson and nearby communities now have improved access to care with the opening of the Nelson community health campus.

“This new health campus is a powerful example of how investing in infrastructure strengthens communities,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “By bringing modern, culturally inclusive health-care facilities to Nelson, we’re not only improving access to care for people of all ages, we’re also creating good local jobs and supporting the long-term well-being of the region.”

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

Emergency services will be unavailable immediately until 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. Patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital in Nakusp during this time. Emergency services are expected to resume as scheduled at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025.

People throughout the Interior are reminded to stay safe from the impacts of poor air quality due to wildfire smoke in the region. The Province of British Columbia has issued air quality warnings for multiple areas across Interior Health. 

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

Emergency services will be unavailable now until 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025. Patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital in Nakusp during this time.

Emergency services are expected to resume as scheduled at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025.

Environment and Climate Change Canada has issued an updated heat warning for the Boundary, South and North Thompson and Fraser Canyon areas in the Interior Health and Fraser Health regions from Sept. 2 to Sept. 5, 2025. View the map of the heat warning area here.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital.
 
Emergency services will be unavailable from 1 p.m. on Sept. 1 to 7 a.m. on Sept. 2, 2025. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital in Penticton during this time.
 
All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital.

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

Guest post by Alison Houweling, harm reduction coordinator with Interior Health

With International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) here, I think about the concept of stigma. Stigma is a hot button topic and honestly, I think some people are tired of hearing the word. But it is one of the most significant barriers to people getting help. 

Clearwater and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital.