On-call physician at Oliver hospital will not affect emergency department hours

OLIVER – Changes to the operation of South Okanagan General Hospital’s emergency department will not affect its operating times.

Interior Health said in a press release today, March 29, the emergency department will continue to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but beginning April 1, a physician will be called into the emergency department between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. in response to emergencies, rather than remaining on location for the entire shift.

All patients will continue to be able to access the emergency department at all hours, and will be assessed by an emergency room nurse, Interior Health said. A physician on-call will be at the hospital or close by and available at all times to respond to emergency care needs.

For true emergencies or patients under the age of 17, the nurse will call the physician.

Other patients with time-sensitive but less serious conditions will have arrangements made to go to Penticton Regional Hospital’s emergency department by ambulance or private vehicle as needed.

The busier daytime hours will continue to see a physician in the emergency department.

Interior Health said this interim measure is intended to improve the sustainability of physician coverage in the hospital’s emergency department as well as improve the availability of physicians to see patients during the day.

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