With the South Similkameen Health Centre bracing to see a third physician leave this year, Interior Health has announced a drastic temporary change to the facility’s emergency services hours.

Beginning today, the emergency department that serves Keremeos and the surrounding communities will only be open from 8 am to 5:30 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Prior to Monday’s announcement, emergency services were available at the centre from 8 am to 5:30 pm Monday through Saturday. 

Photo Credit: Interior Health

“We received notice from our physician group that their own capacity to continue to provide care, both emergency and primary care services, was going to be limited following the departure of three physicians over the last year,” said Madeleine Csillag-Wong, executive director, clinical operations for the South Okanagan, when asked what prompted the change.

“And they wanted us to be sure that they had a desire to provide predictability to the community in relation to access to emergency services as well as primary care services.”

Csillag-Wong noted that the three physician departures are all separate and unrelated to each other. The third physician departure is expected to occur next week.

While the ER in Keremeos will be closed on weekends, Tuesdays and Thursdays, all other inpatient services will continue without interruption. 

If someone needs emergency care during a closure, they are urged to call 911 or go to Princeton General Hospital or Penticton Regional Hospital. 

From the health centre in Keremeos to the hospital in Princeton is a 47-minute drive. The journey from the centre in Keremeos to the hospital in Penticton is a 39-minute drive.

Csillag-Wong said that Interior Health is working as quickly as it can to minimize the length of the disruption to emergency services in Keremeos.

That work includes consulting with the community and health partners to sustain and improve health services, reduce physician burnout and strengthen recruitment in the area. 

“This temporary change ensures that we can continue to maintain safe, sustainable coverage for our patients while we continue working toward a long-term solution,” said Csillag-Wong.

While it is uncertain how long this temporary change will last, Csillag-Wong said it would be ideal to see the number of physicians at the centre bounce back to its previous level of six.

Interior Health has said that it will provide further updates to the community as its planning evolves.