Interior Health says the emergency department at the Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt will be closed until tomorrow morning because of a lack of doctors.

The health authority says the emergency department is expected to reopen at 8 a.m. on Feb. 10, with patients being told to head to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops if they need emergency care.

“During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital,” Interior Health said.

“People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.”

This is the first emergency department closure in Merritt this year, after 20 last year, most recently on Nov. 25.

The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.