ROCKY MOUNTAIN HOUSE — Surgical procedures have been shut down at Rocky Mountain House Health Centre due to flood damage from a roof that started leaking on Monday.
Workers are now starting demolition and restoration in the surgical process department, which includes the operating room, surgical preparation area and one of the treatment and triage rooms in the emergency area.
There is still plenty of space available in the emergency department, so the hospital’s ability to treat emergency patients will not be affected, site manager Shirley Hope said on Thursday.
However, the hospital will not be unable to perform surgeries until mid-July, when it is hoped that all damages will be repaired, said Hope.
Urgent surgeries will be referred to other sites, while non-urgent surgeries will be rescheduled, she said.
There will be no estimate of the costs for repairs until the engineer has conducted an assessment and made recommendations, said Hope.
Alberta Health Services will be responsible for covering those costs, she said.
The hospital’s flat roof had sprung a leak at the same time last year. However, Hope said she did not wish to discuss the earlier event.
The timing of the closure has no greater impact at this time of year than it would at any other, said Hope.
“We’re busy all the time.”
bkossowan@www.reddeeradvocate.com