Clearwater ER closed for five nights in a row due to staff shortage | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops News

Clearwater ER closed for five nights in a row due to staff shortage

Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater is closing down its emergency department overnight from Aug. 3 to 7, 2022, due to staffing shortages.
Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital

The emergency department in Clearwater will be closed for five nights in a row this week.

Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital Emergency Department has shut down numerous times in recent months due to severe staffing shortages.

The department will remain open during the day but will be on diversion from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Aug. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, according to an Interior Health media release. Daytime hours of service on these days are from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and will return to 24-hours service on Monday, Aug. 8.

READ MORE: Staffing shortage twice as bad at Kamloops hospital versus Kelowna

Residents are instructed by the health authority to call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency while the department is closed, and call Healthlink B.C. at 8-1-1 if unsure of the need to seek emergency care.

Interior Health said it regrets the change to normal operations and are reminding residents to take note of other open departments if they require care while the Clearwater department is closed.

Residents can visit the emergency departments at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops at 311 Columbia Street, or 100 Mile House District General Hospital in 100 Mile at 555 Cedar Avenue South.

The emergency department in Clearwater is normally open 24/7.


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