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Two Kamloops veterinarians are making plans to open a 24-hour emergency hospital.

Doctors Adrian Helmers and Megan Broschak want to open the emergency clinic in order to both attract more veterinarians to Kamloops and alleviate the pressure on local clinics to respond to emergencies.

They're calling the planned 24-hour hospital Phases Veterinary Emergency Hospital, Helmers said in an emailed announcement detailing some of the plans.

Together they own Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital and are one of several clinics in Kamloops that rotate through the emergency on-call group for pet owners in the region.

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The project is, so far, a distant dream, but Helmers and Broschak plan to raise upwards of $5 million for start-up costs.

"Veterinarians and veterinary nurses are leaving the profession faster than they can be replaced, and it is all happening at a time where people are adding more pets to their homes and are becoming more devoted to their health and wellness," Helmers said in an email.

The 24-hour facility would likely be similar to Fairfield Animal Hospital in Kelowna, which takes emergencies from the Okanagan and sometimes from Kamloops.

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"It should draw more veterinarians and veterinary nurses into the city, and make them want to stay here. It should attract veterinary specialists that are otherwise only found in Vancouver and Calgary," Helmers said. "In a time of multi-national veterinary shortages and veterinary burn-out, this has never been more important for a small city."

Hailey Clarke of Central Animal Hospital agreed that the hospital could entice veterinary technicians and doctors to the city, adding that 24-hour on-call services are some of the most draining parts of the industry.

"I think it would make Kamloops more attractive... because of not having to deal with that stress," she said. "If there was a 24-hour hospital, they could focus on the nine-to-five aspects of the job."

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While Helmers' announcement did not identify a specific location for the proposed hospital, Clarke said there have been several possible locations floated amongst local clinics for a 24-hour facility. Clarke, however, said Central Animal Hospital is not involved with the current plans for Phases Emergency Hospital.

For now, Helmers and Broschak are planning for a Summer 2023 opening date for the new facility, but it's unclear if that plan is likely to change.

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