The Listowel Wingham Hospital Alliance has released an update on the fire that occurred at the Listowel Memorial Hospital on May 28.
According to the LWHA, a small fire broke out in a construction zone on the second floor. A total of 29 patients were safely evacuated from the 1st and 2nd floor inpatient units and transferred to 7 regional hospitals.
Air quality tests are being conducted and a restoration and cleaning crew is hard at work to clean up the damage. Equipment, curtains, linens and other items are being cleaned or replaced as needed.
The work is being done to prepare to house inpatients on the first floor inpatient unit. The second floor unit will be out of service for several weeks to allow for restoration and cleaning of the smoke damage. There was no water damage or any other damage done other than from smoke.
The Listowel Memorial Hospital Emergency Department remains open for all patients and community members requiring Emergency Department care. All other patient care continues including in the operating room, diagnostic imaging, ambulatory care and laboratory.
The LWHA says it does not anticipate having the 1st floor inpatient unit available for admissions until at least Monday, June 3. Until then, patients requiring a hospital admission will be transported to other regional hospitals for care.