Merritt emergency department to close for most of Friday

MERRITT, B.C. — The emergency department in Merritt will be closed for most of the day Friday (Sept. 18). 

Interior Health says emergency services will be temporarily unavailable at Nicola Valley Hospital from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. However, all other inpatient services will continue at the Merritt hospital during that time. 

During the 11-hour temporary closure, Interior Health says residents in the Merritt area in need of emergency care are asked to visit Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops. 

Anyone in the Merritt area who is in need of life-threatening emergency care is asked to call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility. Residents can call HealthLink BC at 811, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information, if they’re unsure if an emergency room visit is warranted.