Clearwater hospital’s emergency services to close for 7th time this month

There have been numerous temporary closures at the ER since July 1

Clearwater hospital’s emergency services to close for 7th time this month Published 4:41 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital’s ER will be closed again on Wednesday evening. Interior Health (IH) issued a press release on July 15 notifying the public about the temporary closure at Clearwater’s hospital. Emergency services will be unavailable from 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 15, until 7 a.m. on Thursday, July 16, marking a 13-hour closure.

Patients can access emergency care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during that time, and all other inpatient services will continue at the hospital, IH said. This marks the seventh temporary closure of Dr. Helmcken Memorial Hospital’s ER since July 1. The most recent was on Saturday, July 11, from 6 p.m. to Sunday, July 12, at 7 a.m.

“Interior Health recognizes that these changes may have a significant impact on the community and that transparent notification is important,” IH said in their July 11 press release. “Our teams remain committed to working to cover these shifts right up to the day of each potential service interruption. If coverage is secured and an interruption is avoided, we will provide an update to the community.”

Those in the Clearwater area 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, IH said on July 15. “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.”