Residents in and around Clearwater were once again without an emergency department this morning, but this time only for a few hours.
The closure at Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital began at 6 am Tuesday and was slated to last until 7 pm, but just after 9 am, Interior Health announced that the emergency department had reopened.
Interior Health did not state the reason why the ER was closed initially or why it reopened early.
This is the second temporary closure of the emergency department in Clearwater this month. The previous closure occurred over the August long weekend and lasted for 49 hours.
“People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (ie, chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility,” wrote Interior Health.
“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.”
