RCMP detachments in the Interior now have access to HealthIM

Summary

• HealthIM launched in the Boundary, Okanagan and West Kootenay regions on April 29, 2026, with the Thompson and Shuswap regions expected to launch on Wednesday, May 27, 2026
• This evidence-based, risk-screening tool supports police response with mental-health-related calls
• Overall, HealthIM outcomes have been positive: 46% decrease in apprehensions, 39% reduction in hospital wait times, and 37% increase in hospital admission rates.

Police age

Name: Deb Donald
Job Title: Indigenous Patient Navigator
Length of Service: 17.5 years
Worksite: Royal Inland Hospital
Community: Kamloops
Ancestral Territory: Simpcw First Nation

Keremeos and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency services hours at South Similkameen Health Centre.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital or at Princeton General Hospital during this time.

Written by Julie Davenport, director of Interior Health's Early Childhood Development program

My journey with speech language pathology started as a small child living in Alberta.

My early life was a curious and happy one; I loved going to the library to find a new mystery or another book on Florence Nightingale. Reading brought me so much joy, I could understand and appreciate the words found on the pages but when I tried to speak all the phrases I had absorbed, I often found myself unable to pull all the words together. 

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

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 p.m. on Monday, May 18 to 7 a.m. on Tuesday, May 19. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.

All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital.

100 Mile House and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at 100 Mile District General Hospital.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 17 to 7 a.m. on Monday, May 18, 2026. Patients can access emergency care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake during this time.

Algae are a natural part of the aquatic ecosystems of lakes and algae blooms can occur throughout the Interior Health region.

Blue-green algae are actually a microscopic bacteria called cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria can live in waters through winter. In the warmer spring and summer months, cyanobacteria can multiply very quickly and produce several types of toxins that can be poisonous to people, pets and livestock.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 5 p.m. on Friday, May 15 to 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 16. Patients can access emergency care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time.

All other inpatient services will continue at South Okanagan General Hospital.

Lillooet and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre.

Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 to 8 a.m. Sunday, May 17, 2026. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time.

All other inpatient services will continue at Lillooet Hospital.