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People living in Vernon and surrounding communities will benefit from increased access to team-based care as planning progresses on a second urgent and primary care centre (UPCC). “We’re building up better access to doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals in Vernon and across the province, because people deserve care that works for them and their families when they need it,” said Premier David Eby. “Urgent and primary care centres deliver faster access to care while relieving pressure on our emergency rooms. With a second centre for Vernon, north Okanagan residents will get better access for cuts, minor infections, sprains and those kinds of medical issues that need a doctor’s attention, but not an emergency room visit.” Planning is underway for a second UPCC in Vernon, which is anticipated to open to patients in fall 2025. The UPCC will provide urgent primary care seven days a week, including statutory holidays. “We are committed to meeting the growing health-care needs of communities around B.C.,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “Early in our primary care strategy, we brought a UPCC to Vernon that has provided much-needed health care to people. As the community has grown, we’re now adding a second UPCC to add capacity and ensure people have access to the care they need, close to home.” The UPCC will provide same-day care for people who need support for their health concerns within 12 to 24 hours, but do not require an emergency department. Conditions such as sprains, cuts, high fevers and minor infections are appropriate for the UPCC. The UPCC will be available to people who do not have a primary care provider, as well as people with a provider who are unable to schedule an appointment within 12 to 24 hours. “Strengthening health-care services in our region and across the province is a top priority for our government and myself,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “As a health-care worker, I recognize the importance in being able to access timely care and this second UPCC in Vernon will provide more options for same-day health care in our community. I know people in Vernon join me in looking forward to watching this project come to life.” Once a location is selected, Interior Health will proceed with the request-for-proposal process for construction-management services. “Establishing a second UPCC in Vernon is a critical part of our ongoing strategy to enhance health-care services for the community,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “By expanding these services, we are not only increasing access to urgent care, but also helping to reduce the strain on our emergency departments. This is a significant step towards delivering comprehensive, timely care that supports the overall health and well-being of the people of Vernon.” Operated by Interior Health, the new Vernon UPCC will be a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, Interior Health, the North Okanagan Division of Family Practice, Okanagan Indian Band and the Splatsin First Nation. This UPCC will be part of the Shuswap North Okanagan Primary Care Network. The capital cost of the UPCC is estimated at $4.97 million, and will be shared by the provincial government through Interior Health and the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District. “We are thrilled to see the continued investment in health care for Vernon and the North Okanagan with the addition of a second UPCC in Vernon,” said Kevin Acton, board chair, North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Regional Hospital District. “This new facility is a testament to the shared dedication to address the evolving health care needs of our region.” There are nine UPCCs operating in the Interior Health region, including Ashcroft, Castlegar, Cranbrook, Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Rutland, Vernon, and West Kelowna. Learn More: To learn more about UPCCs in the Interior Health region, visit: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/information-for/patients-and-visitors/urgent-and-primary-care-centres  To read about B.C.’s primary care strategy, visit: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/bcs-primary-care-system and https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2018PREM0034-001010 Read original release on BC Gov News

Lillooet and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre due to limited physician availability.   Emergency services will continue to be unavailable until 8 a.m. Friday, August 23, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time.   All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Lillooet Hospital.   People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 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 Lillooet 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 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, 2024. 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 9-1-1 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.

Lillooet and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre due to limited physician availability.   Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. on Wednesday, August 21 to 7 a.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time.   All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Lillooet Hospital.   People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 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 Lillooet is normally open 24/7.

Lillooet and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre due to limited physician availability. Emergency services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. on Sunday, August 18 to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Lillooet Hospital. People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 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 Lillooet 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 5 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Sunday, August 18.  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. 

 Merritt and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at the Nicola Valley Hospital and Health Centre in Merritt B.C. due to limited physician availability.  Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 a.m. on Saturday, August 17 to 8 a.m. on Sunday, August 18, 2024. 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 9-1-1 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.

People in the Central Okanagan will have increased access to dedicated dialysis services as the Kelowna Community Dialysis Unit opens in a new location at 102-1835 Gordon Drive on Aug. 26, 2024. "The expansion of the Kelowna Community Dialysis Unit will significantly enhance dialysis care in the Central Okanagan. By increasing service capacity, we are addressing the growing demand for dialysis treatment in the community” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. To meet the growing population in Kelowna and surrounding areas, the Community Dialysis Unit is increasing from eight to 11 chairs in this new, purpose-built space, which also has the potential for up to 14 chairs depending on demand. Outpatient dialysis treatment will be provided to medically stable and independent patients with kidney disease. The expansion means up to 8,736 dialysis treatments will be provided annually in the Central Okanagan community, an increase of 3,744 yearly treatments when all chairs are fully utilized. "Expanding the Kelowna Community Dialysis Unit is an important step forward in enhancing dialysis care in the region. Increasing the capacity means there will be shorter transition wait times and we will have the ability to accommodate more patients, which is essential given the rising prevalence of kidney disease,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “This investment not only improves patient outcomes, but also supports the broader health-care system by providing timely and efficient health care." The expanded unit has been designed to meet the needs of dialysis patients and offers a culturally safe space for the Indigenous community. There will be two ceiling lifts that will assist nursing staff in providing dialysis treatment to patients with mobility challenges as well as a droplet precaution room that meets infection prevention and control standards to provide treatment for people with communicable diseases. Each dialysis station will also be equipped with a ceiling-mounted radiant heater to accommodate patients with kidney disease who are more sensitive to cold due to vascular disease. Additionally, the expanded space will allow nurses to offer training for home dialysis modalities, such as peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis, reducing the need for patients to travel to Kelowna General Hospital (KGH) for this initial training. Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment that is typically required three to four times a week. Community dialysis units are strategically located to offer treatments closer to patients’ homes. The Kelowna Community Dialysis Unit will serve patients six days a week from Monday to Saturday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. “As a dialysis patient, I am incredibly grateful for the expansion of the Kelowna Community Dialysis Unit. The new facility will make a significant difference knowing that there will be more dialysis stations available which means shorter wait times and more convenient scheduling, easing the burden of managing my condition, said Mary-Kay Polacco, Kelowna dialysis patient “The new features and increased capacity will bring greater quality of care and support, making it easier to maintain my health.” The relocation and renovations to the community dialysis unit cost $4.39 million and are being funded by BC Renal. The KGH Foundation also contributed $90,000 helping provide this new space with local artwork, additional furniture, emotional support pet beds, bariatric hemodialysis chairs as well as additional comforts to both the waiting room and hybrid rooms. “In addition to ensuring access to life-saving dialysis care for current and future patients, this expansion project supports uptake of independent/home-based dialysis therapies, which offer a range of benefits including a more flexible schedule, enhanced ability to travel and overall health outcomes and quality of life,” said Dr. Adeera Levin, Executive Director of BC Renal. “BC Renal applauds the Interior Health Renal Program for their commitment to improving coordination of care and empowering patients to be active players in managing their disease.” To learn more about kidney health and renal programs and services in Interior Health, visit: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/healthy-living/kidney-health

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 1 p.m. on Friday, August 16 to 12 p.m. on Saturday, August 17. 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.