Okanagan ER experiences second consecutive overnight closure

For the second consecutive night, the emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital was temporarily closed due to limited physician availability.

The latest closure began at 7 pm Saturday and lasted until 7 am Sunday.

While the ER in Oliver was closed, all other inpatient services continued as normal.

The Friday and Saturday night closures mark the second consecutive weekend South Okanagan General Hospital has experienced multiple ER closures.

During the closures, patients were asked to access care at Penticton Regional Hospital.

“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.”

The South Okanagan General Hospital ER is supposed to be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Between Jan. 1 and July 31, the department was closed 21 times.

In August and September, it was closed 13 times.

There have been two temporary closures in October.