Lake of the Woods District Hospital has revealed the cause of a flood that cause significant damage to the facility yesterday.
President and CEO Cheryl O’Flaherty says the flood took place on the upper floor of the hospital but affected several departments.
“The incident was caused by an infrastructure failure on the 4th floor resulting in water impacting several areas of the hospital,” O’Flaherty said in a prepared statement.
“While the initial cause has been identified, assessments of affected spaces and equipment is ongoing, and restoration teams remain onsite to support recovery efforts.”
O’Flaherty says air quality testing is underway, with results expected mid-next week.
“Water can cause significant and rapid damage in a hospital environment due to the complexity of systems, specialized equipment, and strict infection control requirements, particularly in an aging facility. This has contributed to the extent of the service disruptions we are experiencing.”
She adds that results of the tests will help determine their long-term response plans.
There are several other service impacts due to the flooding:
- Surgical Services: Surgical Services has been significantly impacted. All surgeries scheduled for the next three weeks are now being cancelled. Patients will be contacted directly by hospital staff.
- Emergency Department: The Emergency Department remains open and fully operational. If you are experiencing an emergency, call 911 or come to the hospital.
- Obstetrics (Maternity): The Obstetrics Department remains open for low-risk deliveries only. Patients requiring higher-risk care should speak with their primary care provider to make appropriate arrangements.
- Other Services: Some services, including Telemedicine and Outpatient Psychiatry have been impacted and may operate at reduced capacity or in alternate locations. Affected patients will be contacted directly.
The hospital says patients with booked appointments, if they have not received a phone call, the appointment remains scheduled as planned. Please note that this may change, and we ask that you monitor your phone and voicemail closely.
