Terrace鈥檚 ongoing doctor shortage intensified at Mills Memorial Hospital on July 10, with no doctor available for work from 12 p.m. until 8 a.m. July 11.

鈥淓mergent and/or urgent patients will receive care,鈥� Northern Health wrote in a statement. 鈥淣on-emergent and/or non-urgent presentations will be diverted to another hospital or invited to return in the morning.鈥�

The authority called the situation unavoidable and unexpected.

People who aren鈥檛 sure if they should visit the ER or who need health advice are being asked to call HealthLink BC (8-1-1), or visit HealthLink BC鈥檚 website for non-emergency health information from nurses, dietitians and pharmacists 24/7.

Residents can also called the Northern Health Virtual Clinic at 1-844-645-7811 between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily.

For those who need life-threatening emergency care 鈥� conditions that include chest pains, difficulty breathing, or severe bleeding 鈥� should always call 9-1-1 and they鈥檒l be taken to what Northern Health calls the 鈥渘earest available and appropriate facility.鈥�