South Okanagan General Hospital's emergency department in Oliver, B.C., will be closed for 31 hours this weekend, its second closure in a week and third since the beginning of November.

This department, which should theoretically be open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, is one of several small medical centers in the province that is facing the problem of closures.

The South Okanagan General Hospital emergency department was closed for several hours on Tuesday, as well as the nights of November 1 and 2.

Such closures are usually due to a doctor or nurse shortage, although a recent internal health announcement for South Okanagan General Hospital did not specify the reason for this weekend's closure.

In a statement Saturday morning, Interior Health officials said "temporary changes to emergency department hours" mean emergency services will not be available starting at 12 p.m.

The emergency room closure will continue until 7 p.m. Sunday, according to the Interior Health Department.

"Patients can visit Penticton Regional Hospital during this time." Interior health officials said in a statement.

Penticton Regional Hospital is about 40 kilometers away from Oliver Hospital.

"People in the community who require life-threatening emergency care (eg, chest pain, difficulty breathing, heavy bleeding) should always call 911 to be transported to the nearest appropriate medical facility." Interior Health has also advised that anyone in doubt about the need to go to the emergency room should call HealthLink BC at 811 or visit healthlinkbc.ca.

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