Oliver and area residents are advised that the recent temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) have been rescinded.

Emergency services will now be available from 8 a.m. Saturday, September 2. Interior Health is committed to emergency services in Oliver, and will continuously work to secure coverage in the event of any service interruptions. We are pleased to have secured physician coverage for this weekend.

Interior Health has begun to support the return of long-term care residents to Brandt’s Creek Mews in Kelowna and to Brookhaven Care Centre in West Kelowna now that threat of wildfire associated with the Grouse Complex wildfire has been reduced.

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. 

Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. Friday, September 1 until 8 a.m. Sunday, September 3 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.

On International Overdose Awareness Day, Interior Health has released the 2022 Medical Health Officer (MHO) report, The Toxic Drug Crisis in BC’s Southern Interior Region (Part 2).

Authored by MHO Dr. Carol Fenton, the report updates on the impact of the unregulated substance poisoning emergency since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, explores the various reasons why people may use substances, and lays out a framework for all of the work needed to respond to this crisis.

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

From 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31 emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital at 97 - 1st Ave NE, Nakusp. 

Name: Elaine Prud’homme (she/her/hers)
Job Title: Youth Substance Use Connections DASW (Discipline Allied with Social Work)
Years of Service: 10
Worksite: Rocky Mountain Lodge MHSU (Mental Health and Substance Use)
Community: Cranbrook
Ancestral Territory: Ktunaxa

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

Interior Health has begun to support the return of long-term care residents to Village at Smith Creek now that threat of wildfire associated with the McDougall Creek wildfire has been reduced.

Repatriation will occur gradually and carefully to ensure appropriate staffing and resources are in place when residents return to their homes. Interior Health is working with our partners in the delivery of long-term care services to keep families of residents informed as repatriation planning progresses.

The Elkford Health Centre will be closed on Tuesday, Aug. 29 due to a scheduled power outage by BC Hydro. For all emergent and urgent health-care needs, patients can access care at the Sparwood Health Centre at 570 Pine Avenue or call 911.

The Rutland Health Centre at 155 Gray Road in Kelowna is temporarily closed due to a fire damaging the building on the morning of Aug. 27.

Interior Health is working to resume services as soon as possible. Appointments on Monday are cancelled, and we will contact clients directly to reschedule appointments.