Clearwater emergency room closure extended into September

The overnight closure of the emergency room in the Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital in Clearwater has been extended until Sept. 3.

The latest closure follows a number of shutdowns earlier this summer and extends the overnight closures that started Aug. 19.

READ MORE: Mayor has ‘deep concern’ ER closures will become permanent in small Interior community

The emergency room will be closed from 6 p.m. until 7 a.m. the next morning, according to an Interior Health news release.

The closures are attributed to a temporary shortage of nurses.

People needing to go to an emergency room are asked to travel to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or 100 Mile House District General Hospital in 100 Mile House.

“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,” the news release says.

People can also call HealthLink B.C. at 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information from nurses, dieticians and pharmacists. That phone line is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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