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Emergency room at Cariboo Memorial Hospital closed overnight

Limited nursing availability noted as the cause
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Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake. (Monica Lamb-Yorski file photo - Williams Lake Tribune)

The emergency room at Cariboo Memorial Hospital is once again closed overnight due to a lack of nurses.

Interior Health issued the late notice at 9:30 p.m. Monday evening, May 27, stating emergency services were unable from 11:30 p.m. until 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Patients are being told access care in neighbouring communities at 100 Mile District General Hospital in 100 Mile House or GR Baker Memorial Hospital in Quesnel during this time.

All other inpatient services continued as normal at Cariboo Memorial Hospital, though there has been disruption with inpatient services in recent weeks as well.

People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 9-1-1 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility.

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 emergency department in Cariboo Memorial Hospital is normally open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

This is the third closure of the ER this year.