Expect More 'Temporary Service Changes' At Princeton Hospital

IHA Princeton issued a fax late May 25th to advise that what has been called 'Temporary Service Changes' where basically "only the most urgent cases will be seen" between the hours of 12:00 AM (Midnight) and 8:00 AM on nights where "limited physician available" forces them to make these adjustments to service will affect another full weekend in June.

Mark your calendar for the following dates:

Friday, June 22 from 12:00 AM (Midnight) to 8:00 AM
Saturday, June 23 from 12:00 AM (Midnight) to 8:00 AM
Sunday, June 24 from 12:00 AM (Midnight) to 8:00 AM

If your emergency is assessed and determined to be a "less urgent matter" you should expect to be sent to another hospital in the region. The closest hospital to Princeton would be in Merritt, an hour away or Penticton about an hour and fifteen minutes away.

In addition to the 'temporary service changes' stated above, the Princeton hospital ER is actually closed four nights a week (Monday through Thursday) from 12:00 AM (Midnight) to 8:00 AM. Although the door is locked, you can communicate with the nurse in the building via a buzzer at the entrance. The nurse will assess your condition at that time and determine your next move.

If your situation is an emergency, a payphone has been installed outside Princeton hospital so you can call 9-1-1 for assistance if you happen to end up outside the building between 12:00 AM (Midnight) and 8:00 AM during one of the closure nights and want to bypass buzzing the nurse in the building.

You might be further ahead to bypass the hospital completely and just call 9-1-1 from home or on your cell phone.