Northern Health is working with Interior Health on the return of Cariboo evacuees to their home communities.
With the lifting of the Williams Lake evacuation alert, Northern Health is planning for and supporting the transfer of community care, assisted living, long-term care and acute care patients who were evacuated to Northern Health facilities, back to Williams Lake.
The phased return of evacuated clients, residents and patients begins today with community clients from the UNBC residences and other Northern Health facilities where they have been receiving care in recent weeks. Assisted living clients will also be transferring today. Over the coming days and weeks, evacuees with higher care needs, such as long-term and acute care, and hemodialysis patients, will return – at Interior Health services resume operation.
Northern Health facilities and programs in Prince George and Quesnel have been providing care and services to more than 200 patients and residents evacuated from Williams Lake. For example, Gateway Lodge accommodated more than 90 additional residents; Northern Health staff supported approximately 50 assisted living and home care clients in residences at the University of Northern BC.