Just a handful of people turned out for an Osoyoos rally over health care for the South Okanagan, sparked by the most recent closure of the region鈥檚 emergency department.

But organizer Marilyn Mulldoon says she鈥檚 not deterred by a small presence, with around 20 people showing up. A small presence, she said, doesn鈥檛 necessarily mean a lack of consensus in the community.

鈥淨uite often people are worried about being seen on camera, as well, many people have just given up hope that anything is going to change, here,鈥� Mulldoon said.

The rally in Osoyoos鈥檚 Gyro Park Friday afternoon came a week after the South Okanagan General Hospital overnight on June 16. It was the second time this month that Interior Health had announced the closure, but the first time a to keep the department running.

鈥淭he people here today are fed up with ER closures and tired of living with the fear of when they open the paper or turn on Facebook 鈥� they鈥檙e going to find yet another advisory that on a particular date, don鈥檛 get sick, don鈥檛 think of dying because nobody鈥檚 going to be at the ER,鈥� Mulldoon said.

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Mulldoon, who suffers from an autoimmune disorder and has pulmonary complications, says she had been sick when the ER closure was announced, even considering heading to the hospital.

鈥淚f I get into trouble, I can anticipate that I鈥檝e got to go 63 kilometres from my door to the ER door in Penticton,鈥� she said, noting that the most recent closure was 鈥渏ust the straw that broke me.鈥�

Mulldoon said one man she knows leaves town when emergency closures are announced.

鈥淗e physically leaves town and goes and stays with relatives in case he needs the ER on that given time,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ome people might consider that a severe reaction, but I think it鈥檚 kind of prudent and wise.鈥�

She added that he鈥檚 lucky to have family he can stay with that is near an emergency department, noting a number of people 鈥渄on鈥檛 have that luxury.鈥�

While the Residents for Health Care group from Osoyoos and Oliver previously called for a walk-in clinic, the Town of Osoyoos and local doctors shot down the idea, noting that a walk-in doesn鈥檛 provide the in-depth care that many need.

But currently the emergency department is being used as a walk-in clinic for those who don鈥檛 have a family physician, and with summer officially here, the ER is likely to get busier.

鈥淎nd the doctors deserve their summer holidays, too. They need time to be on vacation, time to spend with their family and time to spend on themselves for their own personal care,鈥� Mulldoon said.

Acknowledging the issue that older doctors are often tied to their location with spouses in their own professions, Mulldoon suggested Interior Health target younger doctors, particularly recent medical school grads, noting that not all young doctors want to be in the bigger cities.

鈥淪ome of them do, but then not all of them do. Many of them would like to be where they can serve families, friends and neighbours,鈥� she said. 鈥淢any of them would enjoy the outdoor activities here. Even if it鈥檚 just for two years.鈥�

As it is, Mulldoon says the emergency closures gives locals a sense of not mattering to the province and to health authorities.

鈥淐losing ERs is pretty much playing russian roulette with patients鈥� health. It鈥檚 a crapshoot,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e leaving people hanging on there, just hanging on the edge of a cliff. That鈥檚 not fair; that鈥檚 not right. That鈥檚 not what we pay our medical premiums for.鈥�

Mulldoon says the group is looking at another rally in Oliver, where SOGH is located, though no plans have been solidified.