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Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital. 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.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.

Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Nicola Valley Hospital due to unexpected limited physician availability. From 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 8 to 8 a.m. Monday, Oct. 9 emergency department services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital. 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.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 to 8 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 8. Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital. 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.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.

Keremeos and area residents are advised of a temporary change at the South Similkameen Health Centre due to unexpected limited nursing availability. From 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, walk-in services will not be available. Patients with urgent needs will be redirected to Penticton Regional Hospital. 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.  During this time, all other community health services will continue as normal at the South Similkameen Health Centre. Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The South Similkameen Health Centre is normally open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is closed on Sundays and stat holidays.

New Denver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Slocan Community Health Centre due to limited staffing availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7. Patients can access care at Arrow Lakes Hospital at 97 - 1st Ave NE, Nakusp. 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.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in New Denver is normally open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week while Interior Health continues to recruit to fill positions to return to 24/7 operations.

A new mammography unit has opened at Shuswap Lake General Hospital to serve the Shuswap region. The site provides free screening mammograms for eligible people and diagnostic mammograms for those needing further testing, allowing patients to access year-round care closer to home. “Increased access to mammography screening is an important part of supporting women in monitoring their breast health,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “B.C.’s provincial breast cancer screening program, which is the first of its kind in the country, has enabled more than 500,000 to have breast screenings in the last two years across the province, and this new unit will further increase access for people in the Shuswap area.” Historically, screening mammograms in the Shuswap have been provided through BC Cancer's mobile coaches, offering over 1,500 screenings annually. Starting this fall, BC Cancer’s essential breast screening services will be delivered in a dedicated mammography unit right within Shuswap Lake General Hospital in Salmon Arm. “The new mammography unit means patients can access screening and diagnostic services at Shuswap Lake General Hospital and eliminates the need to travel to other communities like Kamloops or Vernon for this service. This is a significant step in the ongoing effort to improve access to rural health care,” said Susan Brown, Interior Health president and CEO. “Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer, and this initiative underscores the commitment of all involved agencies to the well-being of people in the Shuswap.” “It’s never been easier to make mammograms a part of your regular routine,” said Dr. Kim Chi, chief medical officer, BC Cancer. “Screening mammograms can help to find breast cancer when lumps are still too small to feel, before the cancer spreads and when there is the best chance of a cure. For the one in eight women who will develop breast cancer in their lifetimes, screening mammography can be lifesaving.” The mammography unit project cost $2.3 million and is a collaborative effort between the Shuswap Hospital Foundation, North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District, Interior Health, BC Cancer / Provincial Health Services Authority. "Our top priority is to enhance health-care access and deliver exceptional services tailored to the specific needs of our community," said Dr. Darren Lorenz, president, Shuswap Hospital Foundation. "This development is a testament to the dedication and commitment of our local funding partners, who share our vision of improving health-care accessibility for all." As part of their fundraising campaign, the Shuswap Hospital Foundation also contributed to a new CT scanner that cost $2.1 million, replacing the existing CT scanner that was installed in 2010. The new, premium CT scanner has been in operation since November 2021 and has been an essential diagnostic tool that allows health-care workers to see detailed images of organs, bones, soft tissues and blood vessels. Since being opened to patients, approximately 11,500 scans have been completed. In total, the Shuswap Hospital Foundation contributed $3.3 million and the regional hospital district contributed $1.1 million between the two projects. “Our foremost mission has always been to enhance health-care facilities and accessibility for our community and region,” said Kevin Acton, North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District chair. “We are proud to support this initiative and look forward with optimism to further enhancements and improvements in health care for our community.” Upon opening, the site will prioritize diagnostic mammography to address community and regional waitlists. Screening mammograms will be offered at the site beginning Nov. 6, with eligible patients being able to book appointments through BC Cancer’s Breast Screening Program by calling 1-800-663-9203. Determine if screening mammogram is right for you by using the Breast Cancer Screening Decision Aid.

Interior Health (IH) has released a five-year Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap that provides long-term, strategic direction for preparing for and mitigating the health impacts of climate change. IH is committed to being a leader in creating a sustainable and resilient health-care system that equitably contributes to the well-being of clients, patients, staff, communities and the planet. The 2023–2028 IH Roadmap, which is the first of its kind, builds on direction from the provincial government, action already taking place within IH, and the increasing impacts of climate change on our region. The 20 actions detailed in the report are designed to strengthen Aboriginal partnerships, build a healthy and resilient health-care system, and support climate adaptation in B.C.’s Interior communities. View the IH Climate Change and Sustainability Roadmap 2023–2028 “The link between the health and well-being of British Columbians, and the health and well-being of our environment, is clear,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health. “The IH Roadmap is grounded in a health equity approach, and positions IH to not only respond effectively to the threat of climate change, but to support our most vulnerable communities, as well as Aboriginal partners in their efforts to prepare for climate change. It builds on the significant momentum we’ve already created as we strive for a healthier environment for those that we serve.” The IH Roadmap was co-created with staff, physicians and external partners, including representatives from Aboriginal communities, local government, municipalities in the Interior region, and specialists in emergency management, climate resilience and public health. “This is an important moment for everyone at Interior Health, and I am extremely proud of the work our teams are doing to promote climate resilience, energy reduction and environmental sustainability,” said medical health officer Dr. Sue Pollock. “The IH Roadmap will serve as a guide towards a more sustainable future as an organization, health-care provider and community member.” Of the 20 actions detailed in the report, many are already in progress, including the development of an electric vehicle strategy; conducting climate risk assessments for our facilities; the integration of environmental sustainability into clinical operations; creating and implementing surveillance and early warning systems for extreme heat, cold and air quality events; and a climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessment. “The Roadmap provides IH a compass by which we will continue to build environmentally sustainable health-care operations and services,” said Lorne Sisley, corporate director, Facilities Management and Operations. “It’s a cohesive document that will be integrated into all areas of our operations and service delivery so that together, we can help strengthen our health-care system to adapt and mitigate climate change impacts.” The IH Roadmap will also support IH in meeting its 2030 greenhouse gas emissions targets. As a public sector organization, IH contributes to B.C.’s legislated target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent below 2007 levels by 2030. IH has been carbon neutral since 2010, as outlined in the 2022 PSO Climate Change Accountability Report.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 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. 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.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.  The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 p.m. Friday, September 29 to 8 a.m. Saturday, September 30 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. 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.  Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week. The emergency department in Oliver is normally open 24/7.