The emergency department at 100 Mile District General Hospital in British Columbia's Interior will face two temporary closures, according to Interior Health. The health authority announced that the ER will be closed from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 10 and July 17, 2026, due to staffing shortages.
Details of the Closures
Interior Health stated that the closures are necessary because of an inability to secure sufficient physician coverage. During the closure periods, patients requiring emergency care are advised to call 911 or seek treatment at the nearest available emergency department, which is at Cariboo Memorial Hospital in Williams Lake, approximately 100 kilometers north.
The health authority noted that the hospital's inpatient services and other departments will remain operational during the closures. Ambulance services will continue to transport patients to other facilities as needed.
Impact on the Community
100 Mile House is a rural community with a population of about 2,000 people, and the hospital serves a wider region including surrounding areas. Residents have expressed concern about the temporary closures, as travel to Williams Lake can take over an hour. Interior Health said it is working to minimize disruptions and is exploring long-term solutions to staffing challenges.
“We understand the impact this has on our community and we are working hard to address the physician shortage,” said an Interior Health spokesperson. The health authority urged residents to use the ER only for emergencies and to consult their family doctors or walk-in clinics for non-urgent issues.
Broader Context
The closures are part of a broader trend of emergency department disruptions in rural British Columbia. Similar temporary closures have occurred at other small hospitals in the Interior region over the past year, driven by a shortage of healthcare professionals. Interior Health has been recruiting physicians and exploring alternative staffing models, but challenges persist.
