The emergency room at the Nicola Valley Hospital in Merritt will be closed overnight because of a lack of nurses.

Interior Health says the facility will be closed for 13 hours between 6 p.m. today, July 4, and 7 a.m. tomorrow, July 5.

“Patients can access care at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops during this time,” Interior Health said, in a statement.

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

This is the third closure of the Merritt ER this year, and first since February. Both of the previous closures this year happened over a four day period and were 24 hours in length each.

 The emergency department in Merritt is normally open 24/7.