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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. 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.  

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. Both part 1 and part 2 complement the BC Coroners Death Review, and include lessons from peer focus groups and from the review of medical charts of people who died from exposure to poisonous unregulated substances and who had accessed IH services in the year prior to their death.   “IH is committed to acting on recommendations from the medical chart review project, taking action to counteract stigma in health-care settings, designing programs and services with First Nations and Métis partners, increasing access to culturally safe mental health and substance services, and working with community partners on upstream prevention,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO of Interior Health. “We are also committed to revising our strategy to generate a comprehensive suite of effective solutions to the unregulated substance poisoning emergency.” The unregulated substance poisoning emergency has continued to worsen in B.C.’s Southern Interior, with 2022 being the deadliest year on record. Two hundred and fifty-three people lost their lives in the first seven months of 2023, compared to 226 people during the same period in 2022. “These aren’t just statistics and numbers: these are people we know and love. They are people in our families, people we work with, our neighbours and our friends,” writes Dr. Fenton in the report’s introduction.  The final part of the report uses the analogy of a river to describe the continuum of measures that promote health and wellness and prevent harm and suffering, and includes specific recommendations. Alongside Interior Health, members of the public, community partners, and the BC Government will continue to play a vital role in reducing stigma and creating better conditions for health and wellness. Medical health officer reports are a legislative mandate under the Public Health Act and align with IH’s strategic priorities. Reports mark IH’s progress and focus on important population health issues that can be addressed through the health-care system and community partnerships.      

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.  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. 

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. Wednesday, Aug. 30 emergency services will be unavailable and 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. 

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. Families will be notified directly as their loved ones are moved back. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Messages can be left after hours for a call back. Interior Health supported the proactive relocation of 186 residents of Village at Smith Creek on Aug. 19 to neighbouring communities due to wildfire activity in the Central Okanagan. As localized alerts and evacuation orders are rescinded, a dedicated team will continue to lead the complex planning work of repatriating residents and clients to their homes. Interior Health proactively relocated nearly 900 people from nine seniors care homes due to the threat of wildfire. Four seniors care homes have already begun repatriating residents home. Interior Health continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to our care partners in neighbouring health authorities, first responders, community volunteers and local and provincial governments. Those requiring support are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789. Watch: Residents of Lakeview Lodge return home following evacuation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn7eYY4MVgQ Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/natural-disasters-and-emergencies/wildfires Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/

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. Patients with booked medical appointments at the Elkford Health Center on Aug. 29 have the option for a phone consult or attending an in-person appointment with their Elkford provider at the Sparwood Health Centre on that day. Anyone with an appointment is being contacted directly by Elkford Health Centre staff. Lab services will also be suspended on Aug. 29. For bloodwork or x-ray services, patients are encouraged to make an appointment for the Sparwood Health Centre through www.labonlinebooking.ca or by calling 1-844-870-4756 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. MDT. Service will return to normal operations at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 30.

Interior Health has begun to support the return of long-term care residents to Glenmore Lodge in Kelowna and Lake Country Lodge in Lake Country now that threat of wildfire associated with the Grouse Complex 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. Families will be notified directly as their loved ones are moved back. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Messages can be left after hours for a call back. Interior Health supported the proactive relocation of Glenmore Lodge and Lake Country Lodge residents on Aug. 18 to neighbouring communities due to wildfire activity in the Central Okanagan. One hundred sixteen residents are returning to Glenmore Lodge and 48 residents are returning to Lake Country Lodge. As localized alerts and evacuation orders are rescinded, a dedicated team will continue to lead the complex planning work of repatriating residents and clients to their homes. Interior Health proactively relocated nearly 900 people from nine seniors care homes due to the threat of wildfire. Two seniors care homes have already begun repatriating residents home. Interior Health continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to our care partners in neighbouring health authorities, first responders, community volunteers and local and provincial governments. Those requiring support are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789. Watch: Residents of Lakeview Lodge return home following evacuation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn7eYY4MVgQ Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/natural-disasters-and-emergencies/wildfires  Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/

Interior Health has begun to support the return of long-term care residents this weekend to the Vineyards Residence, located in Kelowna, and to Lakeview Lodge, located in West Kelowna, now that threat of wildfire associated with the Grouse Complex wildfire have been reduced. 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. Repatriation will occur gradually and carefully to ensure appropriate staffing and resources are in place when residents return to their homes. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Hours of operation are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Messages can be left after hours for a call back. Interior Health supported the proactive relocation of Lakeview Lodge and the Vineyards Residence residents on Aug. 18 and Aug. 20, respectively, to neighbouring communities due to wildfire activity in the Central Okanagan. One hundred and thirty-one residents are returning to Vineyards Residence, while 112 residents are returning to Lakeview Lodge. As localized alerts and evacuation orders are rescinded, a dedicated team will continue to lead the complex planning work of repatriating residents and clients to their homes. Interior Health continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks goes out to our care partners in neighbouring health authorities, first responders, community volunteers and local and provincial governments. Those requiring support are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789. Everyone is reminded to make preparations for wildfires, and smoky skies as air quality deteriorates by visiting: Wildfires | Natural Disasters & Emergencies | IH (interiorhealth.ca) Install the BC Wildfire Service mobile app (Android or iOS) or visit the BC Wildfire Service Dashboard to find information on current wildfire activity: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/wildfire-status The FireWork Forecast shows maps of predicted smoke impacts over the next 48 hours: https://weather.gc.ca/firework/

Oliver and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at South Okanagan General Hospital (SOGH) due to limited physician availability. From 2-5 a.m. on Aug. 22, emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at 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.  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.