Interior Health says the emergency department at the Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt will be closed today, Jan. 16, due to a lack of doctors.
In a statement at 10 a.m., the health authority said the closure due to “unanticipated limited physician availability” began at 8:30 a.m. Monday, with the emergency department set to reopen at 8 a.m. tomorrow, Jan. 17
“Emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops,” Interior Health said. “During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital.”
Interior Health says anyone who needs life-threatening emergency care should still call 9-1-1 so they can be taken “to the nearest available and appropriate facility.”
Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.