For the second time in three days, the emergency room at Oliver's hospital has closed due to a doctor shortage.

Emergency services at the South Okanagan General Hospital will be unavailable on Tuesday, Sept. 17, from 1 to 7 p.m., Interior Health (IH) said.

This marks the second closure at the hospital's emergency room this week, after it closed during the same hours on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Patients can access care at the Penticton Regional Hospital during this time, IH said.

"People in the community who need life-threatening emergency care (i.e., chest pains, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding) should call 911 for transport to the nearest available and appropriate facility," the regional health authority added in a press release.

All other impatient services will continue as normal Tuesday at the Oliver hospital.