(Image Credit: CFJC file photo)
By Elora McCormack
ER Closure

Second July closure at Merritt coinciding with Bass Coast festival

Jul 10, 2026 | 5:00 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — The emergency department at the Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt will be closed for 11 hours this Sunday (July 12), as thousands of people gather for the annual Bass Coast festival.


Emergency services will be unavailable from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, but all other inpatient services will remain operational.

Its the second ER closure of the month in Merritt, and people needing emergency care can seek treatment at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.

“People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should always call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility,” said Interior Health officials.

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“Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 811, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.”

by Elora McCormack

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