Update:
The Lloydminster Hospital is continuing to try to restore air conditioning to the hospital. Two temporary cooling units and generators are arriving at the hospital later today. The Prairie North Health Region says installation of the units will begin immediately and are expected to be running in the next day or so.
More equipment will be arriving Thursday to remove the moisture from the hospital’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.
Derek Miller, Prairie North Health Region Vice-President of Finance and Operations says, “we continue to ask for your patience and understanding as we work to restore our systems and environment to safe normal functioning. Thank you for your cooperation.”
Six endoscopies that were cancelled yesterday are the first to be done today, followed by those previously scheduled. PNHR says the general surgeries and cataract operations that were cancelled yesterday are being rescheduled as quickly as possible.
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Update:
A temporary separate air supply line has restored air intake to the Operating Rooms at the Lloydminster Hospital allowing for surgical services to get back up and running. Labour and delivery services have also resumed and the hospital is longer being bypassed.
The 22 surgeries that were cancelled have been rescheduled.
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The Lloydminster Hospital is feeling the affects of Friday’s rain storm.
All surgeries have been cancelled for today, meaning delays in procedures for 22 patients. As well, labour and delivery services are being impacted for women who may need C-sections. Endoscopic procedures have also been cancelled. Emergency services have been told to by-pass Lloydminster for patients who may need surgery.
The cause for the cancellations is due to rain backing up the hospital’s storm drains and causing flooding of the facility’s main air supply lines and some duct work. Since Friday, the hospital has been without its heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems impacting the ability to maintain fresh air supply and temperature control which is crucial for surgeries.
“Hospital personnel have been working through the weekend to determine the extent of the problem and the damage caused by the deluge of rain. Crews have been on site since after the storm pumping out the water. From one duct alone, 2,500 gallons of water was pumped out,” says Derek Miller, Prairie North Health Region Vice President of Finance and Operations.
“Once all of the water is removed, the clean-up, drying, and testing is likely to take the rest of this week.” Miller adds.
He also adds that the system will have to meet infection control guidelines before it can start up again.
Miller goes on to say, “fortunately, the Operating Room HVAC system is separate from the rest of the hospital’s system with the exception of its air supply. We are working to install a temporary fresh air supply duct to the OR system in order to resume surgical services as soon as possible.”
All other patient services are continuing as usual.