Lack of nurses means early closure of Keremeos ER

Emergency department patients in the Keremeos area will be diverted to Penticton on Monday as a nursing shortage forces an early closure.

The South Similkameen Health Centre emergency department in Keremeos is closing at 3:30 p.m. today, Sept. 6, according to an Interior Health news release.

Patients can access emergency healthcare at Penticton Regional Hospital until regular hours resume. If faced with a life-threatening emergency, patients are urged to call 9-1-1.

The Keremeos emergency department is normally open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., and those hours will resume Tuesday, Sept. 7, according to the release.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Levi Landry or call 250-819-3723 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.