Merrittonians set to hold “Nurses Rally” at the Community Garden behind Nicola Valley Hospital today

MERRITT — Locals are encouraged to come together and join the nurses rally happening at the Community Garden behind Nicola Valley Hospital today.

The rally will take place from noon to 1 p.m. (April 17th, 2024.)

The original meeting point was the front lawn of the hospital but has since been changed to the garden behind the hospital. 

The point of the rally is to demand that Interior Health acknowledge the current crisis at their worksite and address the systematic staffing challenges nurses face. 

Challenges like untenable working conditions for nurses and the deterioration of patient care in Merritt.

For months, nurses have been calling for a staffing contingency plan and safer working conditions. 

At the same time, Merritt is seeing a greater need for health care services and increased patient acuity. 

Many locals are being forced to drive longer distances to Kamloops Royal Inland Hospital, instead of being treated at Nicola Valley Hospital. 

Nurses meanwhile are experiencing burnout and moral distress.

The protest serves as a message to Interior Health that Merrittonians won’t stand by and let all this happen without some sort of response.