ER closing for 31 hours

The South Okanagan General Hospital is closing its emergency room from midday Saturday until Sunday evening, due to an ongoing doctor shortage.

In a press release issued just two hours before the closure, Interior Health alerted residents that the ER services will be unavailable from 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 9 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 10.

“Patients can access care at Penticton Regional Hospital during this time,” Interior Health noted in a press release. “All other inpatient services will continue as normal at South Okanagan General Hospital.”

Anyone with chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, and other emergency situations are asked to call 911 emergency operators to be transported to the next nearest hospital.

Those unsure whether their situation is an emergency can call HealthLink BC at 811 or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca.

The South Okanagan General Hospital's emergency service has repeatedly temporarily closed due to staff shortages over the past several years.