Just as it was expected to be open overnight for the first time in eight days,  the Clearwater emergency department has been faced with yet another eight night closure.

Interior Health says emergency services will not be available from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. from August 19 through to the 26.

The “ongoing temporary changes” come after the health authority announced on August 11, an eight night diversion at the emergency room in Clearwater, with the expectation it would return to 24-hour services on August 19.

However, the additional eight nights, means the emergency room in Clearwater will be faced with 16 consecutive overnight closures, which Interior Health explains is due to limited nursing availability.

While the emergency department at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on all the days, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says having so many closures back-to-back getting exhausting for the entire community.

“The joke around town is plan your accidents, plan your emergencies because we are only open for these hours at the ER… It is wearing on people for sure.”

He explains there is concern, especially with shortages of BC ambulance services.

“Locally and regionally for ambulance services and paramedics and EMR’s and PCP, all of these physicians are tied together as far as healthcare response, especially emergency healthcare response.”

However, despite the frustrations, Blackwell says some progress on staffing the hospital in Clearwater is being made.

“I spoke with Interior Health yesterday (Thursday) afternoon and again this morning (Friday) and the goal is to move towards having the emergency department open 7 am to 11 pm as soon as we can get enough staff on board.”

He says a few nurses and a doctor have been hired to work in the community and are expected to start working on the floor within the next two weeks.

“I also know that three or four other nurses are actually in negotiations to see whether or not they want to come to Clearwater so we are making progress on this.”

A few months ago, Blackwell was told there should be some relief with staffing shortages by mid-September.

He stresses both the emergency department, and ambulance services need to get back to 24/7, full coverage operations.

“Nobody plans a heart attack, nobody plans a car accident, we really do need these things to get back to a 24/7 full coverage standard for both the emergency department and BC ambulance services throughout the region.”

In the event of an emergency, people are told to call 9-1-1, while for non-emergency, health related questions, call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.

Residents are being directed to either Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or the 100 Mile House District General Hospital.