Residents in and around Oliver are without an emergency department for a large portion of the day.
The ER at South Okanagan General Hospital closed its doors at 5 am this morning and is not expected to reopen until 7 pm tonight.
During the 14-hour closure, patients needing emergency care are asked to go to Penticton Regional Hospital.
While the ER is closed at South Okanagan General Hospital, all other inpatient services will continue as normal.
“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.”
