The emergency department at the Nicola Valley Memorial Hospital in Merritt will be closed for nine hours tomorrow, Feb. 8.

Interior Health says the temporary change is due to a physician vacancy from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday.

“Emergency services will be unavailable and patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops,” a statement from Interior Health said. “Emergency department services will be available again in Merritt at 5 p.m. Wednesday.”

“During this time, all other inpatient services will continue as normal at Nicola Valley Hospital.”

This is the fourth closure at the Nicola Valley Memorial Hospital since Dec. 20, and the first in three weeks. That third closure on Jan. 16, led to concerns from Mayor Mike Goetz, owing to Merritt’s proximity to major highways like the Coquihalla and the Okanagan Connector.

“Basically, what [IH tells] us is the same thing, is that you’re not the only community, and we’re doing the best that we can,” Goetz told NL News, noting the Christmas Eve bus crash on the Okanagan Connector is an example of why Merritt needs a fully functioning hospital.

“We ask them if they can do better, and we kind of get a blank stare.”

As has been the case during previous closures, Interior Health says who need emergency care should call 911 so they can be taken “to the nearest available and appropriate facility.”

Anyone unsure whether an emergency room visit is warranted can call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1.