Emergency department closures that have previously been called “unacceptable” by Oliver’s mayor will return to the South Okanagan General Hospital this weekend.
Doctor shortages will once again make emergency services unavailable at the Oliver Hospital from 4 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 10, to 8 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 11, Interior Health has announced.
The department has faced dozens of closures over the past two months.
Patients can access care at the Penticton Regional Hospital during this time, IH says.
All other services through the night will continue as normal at Oliver’s hopsital.
A new funding model to address doctor shortages was announced by the province on Oct. 19. It includes a commitment of $7.5 million in funding to help stabilize the shortages at hospitals in Merritt, Oliver and Salmon Arm.
The announcement sparked optimism in Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen, who at the time called B.C.’s commitment “a “positive step in the right direction.”
Prior to that, though, Johansen was much more critical of the situation. In early September, when emergency services were unavailable for 24 consecutive hours in the community, the mayor called the closures “unprecedented.”
Thanks to Penticton Herald
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