Residents  line up to board  bus – photos courtesy Northern Health

Prince George, B.C. -Now that  the City of Williams Lake is no longer under an evacuation alert,  Northern Health  has started the process of returning  those  who had been in their care,   back to  their home community.

Northern Health has been providing services to  clients  of community care, assisted living, long-term care and acute care patients since the crisis began in early July.

The phased return started today with community clients from the UNBC residences and other NH facilities where they have been receiving care in recent weeks.

Assisted living clients will also be transferring today.

Among  the evacuees boarding the bus today, was Honey,   ( in photo at right) a dog owned by one of the  assisted living residents

Over the coming days and weeks, evacuees with higher care needs, such as long-term and acute care, and hemodialysis patients, will return   as Interior Health resumes  services.

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  in Prince George accommodated more than 90 additional residents; NH staff supported approximately 50 assisted living and home care clients in residences at the University of Northern BC.