EMERGENCY SERVICES

In the Interior Health (IH) region, emergency services are categorized by the severity of the medical need. Because IH covers a massive geographical area (from Williams Lake to the US border, and from the Okanagan to the Rockies), it is important to check for service interruptions, as some smaller rural ERs occasionally close overnight due to staffing.

1. Major Emergency Departments (24/7 Hospitals)

These are full-service hospitals equipped for life-threatening emergencies (e.g., heart attack, stroke, major trauma).

Region

Primary Hospital(s)

Address

Kelowna

Kelowna General Hospital

2268 Pandosy St

Kamloops

Royal Inland Hospital

311 Columbia St

Vernon

Vernon Jubilee Hospital

2101 32nd St

Penticton

Penticton Regional Hospital

550 Carmi Ave

Cranbrook

East Kootenay Regional Hospital

13 24th Ave N

Trail

Kootenay Boundary Regional Hospital

1200 Hospital Bench

Williams Lake

Cariboo Memorial Hospital

517 6 Ave N

Salmon Arm

Shuswap Lake General Hospital

601 10th St NE

Nelson

Kootenay Lake Hospital

3 View St

Other 24/7 ERs are located in 100 Mile House, Castlegar, Creston, Fernie, Golden, Grand Forks, Invermere, Lillooet, Merritt, Nakusp, Oliver, Princeton, and Revelstoke.

2. Urgent and Primary Care Centres (UPCCs)

Use these for non-life-threatening issues that still need medical attention within 12–24 hours (e.g., minor breaks, infections, stitches).

• Kelowna: 1141 Harvey Ave

• West Kelowna: 2484 Main St

• Kamloops (North Shore): #21-22, 700 Tranquille Rd

• Kamloops (South Shore): 311 Columbia St

• Castlegar: 709 10th St

• Cranbrook: 1311 2nd St N

• Penticton: 437 Martin St

• Vernon: 3105 28th Ave

3. Mental Health & Substance Use Crisis Services

Interior Health has specialized response teams for psychiatric or addiction-related emergencies.

• 310-MHSU (6478): A central number to connect you to your local Mental Health & Substance Use office during business hours.

• Interior Crisis Line Network: 1-888-353-2273 (Available 24/7).

• Integrated Crisis Response Teams: In Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, and Penticton, IH clinicians partner with RCMP for on-site crisis intervention.

• Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8.

Important Resources for 2026

• 8-1-1 (HealthLink BC): Call anytime to speak with a nurse to determine if you need to go to the ER or can wait for a clinic.

• Service Alerts: Check the Interior Health News & Alerts page before heading to a rural ER, as temporary "diversions" (closures) are common in smaller communities like Ashcroft, Clearwater, or Oliver.

• Poison Control: 1-800-567-8911.