BC Interior posted May 29, 2025 @ 06:30am by Iain Burns

Nightmare in Lillooet continues as emergency department shut down once again

Once again, the people of Lillooet have been left without emergency care.

The municipality’s hospital shut down its emergency department at 7 pm on Wednesday.

Interior Health explained in a bulletin that it will reopen at 8 am today.

The hospital was also unable to provide emergency care between Saturday at 7 am and Monday at 10 am.

<who> Photo credit: Interior Health

Its ER was then shut yet again between 7 pm on Tuesday and 8 am on Wednesday.

People in need of emergency care have been told by Interior Health to go to Kamloops instead.

That’s a drive through the mountains that usually takes about two hours.

In its bulletin, which was published last night, Interior Health said: “People in the community 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.

“Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1, or visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24 hours a day, seven days per week.”

Lillooet has so far been the worst-hit ER in the BC Interior this year, with regular closures.

To read one of NowMedia's many in-depth articles about the closures, head here.

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