Frustration grows in Merritt as residents rally against repeated ER closures

MERRITT, B.C. — It’s a constant issue that has been occurring too many times now. Residents in the Nicola Valley held another protest on Saturday (April 15) in regards to the ongoing closure at their emergency department.

“People here are in danger,” protest organizer Georgia Clement told CFJC Today. “[Interior Health] is making decisions and they’re playing with our lives. They’re playing politics with our lives — literally.”

The ER’s 10th closure since Christmas is because of a lack of employees. A problem that hits close too home for Melanie Griffiths, who lost her father Robert Barr earlier this year.

“The hospital was closing in two hours,” Griffiths said. “They sent him on his way home. Last thing I remember my dad saying was, ‘I’m scared.’ But he passed away in the night.”

In a scenario when the emergency department is closed, residents will have to travel all the way over to Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops or Kelowna General Hospital. Residents who rallied Saturday say that’s unacceptable.

“How is somebody that has a heart attack or can’t breathe supposed to get there? They can’t breathe… you’ve got three minutes to live.” Griffiths said.

The mayor of Merritt, Mike Goetz, says he is exploring all options that are available. He’s made a request to Interior Health to bring back employees who were let go due to being unvaccinated against COVID-19.

“This hospital, years ago, was a fully functional hospital,” Goetz told CFJC Today. “All 40 beds were out. We had surgeons, we had babies born here. This is not a magical situation. It’s happened before and it needs to be returned to that.”

Goetz addtionally says he’s expecting a phone call from Health Minister Adrian Dix and is hoping to hear from him later this week.