Staffing shortage forces overnight closure at Oliver emergency room

South Okanagan residents will have to head to Penticton for emergencies as the Oliver emergency room closes for the night.

South Okanagan General Hospital emergency department is closed from 6 p.m. today, Aug. 18, to 8 a.m. Friday, according to Interior Health.

"Interior Health regrets this temporary change to normal operations," the health authority said in a news release.

Oliver's emergency department is normally open 24/7.

It's one of multiple rural hospitals in the region to temporarily close as Interior Health is faced with ongoing staff shortages.

South Okanagan residents should call 911 in an emergency or visit Penticton Regional Hospital.

Interior Health didn't specify why the emergency department is closed, but similar and frequent closures in Ashcroft in Clearwater are usually blamed on a lack of nurses.

Interior Health also said regular inpatient services will continue as normal.

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