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Residents of the Pavilion long-term care home in New Denver are now home following the lifting of a local evacuation alert and the re-opening of Highway 6. Residents were moved to alternate locations on July 25 due to risks associated with the Slocan Complex fire. Interior Health would like to thank all partners involved for supporting the safe relocation and repatriation of these residents. IH continues to closely monitor wildfire activity in the Interior in consultation with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to keep patients, clients, and individuals in long-term care safe. Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. 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

People living in the Williams Lake area will benefit from more access to team-based health care with a new urgent and primary care centre (UPCC) coming in early 2025. “We’re committed to ensuring that everyone in B.C. can access the health care they need no matter where and when they need it, and the new Williams Lake UPCC is a great step forward in this direction,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. “With its extended hours of operation, this centre will make it easier for people in the community to connect with health services closer to home that they can count on, now and in the future.” Located at 47 Cameron St., once open, the new Williams Lake UPCC will provide urgent and episodic primary care seven days a week, including statutory holidays, when fully operational. “With a new UPCC, we are working to increase access to primary care services for the people in Williams Lake,” said Susan Brown, president and CEO, Interior Health. “With team-based care, patients will be able to see the most appropriate health-care provider for both their urgent and primary care needs.” The UPCC will provide same-day care for people who need access to primary care within 12 to 24 hours, but do not require an emergency department. Conditions such as sprains, cuts, fevers and minor infections are appropriate for the UPCC. People can access the centre’s primary care via in-person, walk-in same-day appointments. 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. When fully staffed, approximately 18 full-time-equivalent health-care providers will provide care, including family physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, Indigenous patient navigators and administrative staff. “The Williams Lake UPCC will provide much-needed health-care services to the community,” said Al Richmond, chair, Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District. “I look forward to the UPCC opening early next year and residents in the area having increased access to health services.” There are nine UPCCs operating in the Interior Health region in Vernon, Kamloops, Kelowna, Castlegar, West Kelowna, Cranbrook, Penticton, Ashcroft and Rutland. The capital cost of the UPCC is being shared by the provincial government through Interior Health and the Cariboo Chilcotin Regional Hospital District. 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 health 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 To learn more about the Province’s health human resource strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0059-001464 Read original news release on BC Gov News

100 Mile House and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at 100 Mile District General Hospital due to limited physician availability. Emergency department services will be unavailable from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14. Patients can access care at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake, Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre in Lillooet or Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. 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 811, 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 100 Mile House is normally open 24/7.

Williams Lake and area residents are advised of temporary changes to emergency department hours at Cariboo Memorial Hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 8 p.m. on Saturday, August 10 to 6 a.m. on Sunday, August 11, 2024. Patients can access care at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House, GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel, or Bella Coola General Hospital in Bella Coola during this time. All other inpatient services will continue as normal at Cariboo Memorial 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 Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Ashcroft residents evacuated on Friday, July 19 are heading home today. Interior Health (IH) relocated residents on July 19 as a precautionary measure related to the Shetland Creek Wildfire. IH would like to thank Ashcroft and receiving location staff and partners who supported the safe relocation and return of these individuals. We also want to recognize the ongoing efforts of the BC Wildfire Service and all the regional districts in the Interior region for their efforts to keep individuals and communities safe. Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Call centre operating hours are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. IH continues to support the wildfire response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks go out to our care partners, first responders, community volunteers, and local and provincial governments across the region. This is an evolving situation and we are working closely with municipalities, regional districts, and the BC Wildfire Service to ensure precautions are underway to protect patients, clients, and individuals in long-term care. Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722. 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 We will provide updates as new information is available.

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 p.m. on Friday, August 9 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, August 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.

The 21 residents evacuated from Mountain View Lodge long-term care home and three patients from the Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre in Lillooet on Thursday, Aug. 1 are heading home today.   Interior Health (IH) relocated clients on Aug. 1 as a precautionary measure related to flood risks created by the landslide into the Chilcotin River southwest of Williams Lake on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.    IH would like to thank Lillooet and receiving community staff and partners who supported the safe relocation and return of these individuals. We also want to recognize the ongoing efforts of all the regional districts in the Interior region for their efforts to keep individuals and communities safe.   Anyone wishing to confirm their loved one’s current location can call 1-833-469-9800. Call centre operating hours are Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.    IH continues to support the emergency response in our region, and our heartfelt thanks go out to our care partners, first responders, community volunteers, and local and provincial governments across the region.    Those requiring support during this crisis are encouraged to call the BC Crisis Line at 310-6789, KUU-US Indigenous Crisis Services at 1-800-588-8717, or MNBC Métis Crisis Line at 1-833-638-4722.   

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 p.m. on Tuesday, August 6 to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 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 Monday, August 5 to 8 a.m. on Tuesday, August 6, 2024. Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time. Interior Health (IH) continues to respond to the potential for flood-related impacts to health facilities and clients in Lillooet due to the landslide into the Chilcotin River southwest of Williams Lake. As a precaution, in-patient services are currently being transferred to other alternate locations away from potentially affected areas. 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.