The emergency department at Oliver General Hospital will close for a shift overnight Saturday, July 7, 2019. Steve Arstad

Oliver hospital emergency department closing Saturday night

PENTICTON – The emergency room at South Okanagan General Hospital will close again this weekend because it will be without a doctor.

Interior Health said in a press release the emergency department will be closed from Saturday, July 6 at 6 p.m. until Sunday, July 7 at 8 a.m. "due to the lack of physician coverage."

Interior Health asks those in need of emergency care to call 9-1-1, head to the emergency room at Penticton Regional Hospital or call HealthLink B.C. at 8-1-1 if you are unsure about the need to go to an emergency department.

The emergency department at South Okanagan General Hospital has closed several times in the past due to a doctor shortage.

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Steve Arstad

Steve Arstad

I have been looking for news in the South Okanagan - SImilkameen for 20 years, having turned a part time lifelong interest into a full time profession. After five years publishing a local newsletter, several years working as a correspondent / stringer for several local newspapers and seven years as editor of a Similkameen weekly newspaper, I joined iNFOnews.ca in 2014. My goal in the news industry has always been to deliver accurate and interesting articles about local people and places. My interest in the profession is life long - from my earliest memories of grade school, I have enjoyed writing.
As an airborne geophysical surveyor I travelled extensively around the globe, conducting helicopter borne mineral surveys.
I also spent several years at an Okanagan Falls based lumber mill, producing glued-wood laminated products.
As a member of the Kaleden community, I have been involved in the Kaleden Volunteer Fire Department for 22 years, and also serve as a trustee on the Kaleden Irrigation District board.
I am currently married to my wife Judy, of 26 years. We are empty-nesters who enjoy living in Kaleden with our Welsh Terrier, Angus, and cat, Tibbs.
Our two daughters, Meagan and Hayley, reside in Richmond and Victoria, respectively.

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