South Shore Health Boiler Explosion - Update

At approximately 8 a.m. this morning there was an explosion in the boiler room, which damaged two of our boilers and injured the Boiler Operator.

James Christopher Bell “Chris,” 25, has been released from the hospital. Mr. Bell has been working at South Shore Health since December.

We are continuing to assess the situation. We were able to partially restore our heating and ventilation system at noon, but do not yet have domestic hot water. We have located a portable boiler that is on route from Halifax and is expected to arrive mid-afternoon There is a second boiler on the way from Cape Breton that will arrive early evening. This will allow us to continue to provide care for our inpatients until a permanent boiler is installed.

There were a total of 70 inpatients in hospital at the time of the explosion. Eight were discharged or transferred to other facilities. We greatly appreciate the offers of help we have had from the local long term care facilities, District Health Authorities and others, but do not expect further transfers will be necessary at this time.

Based on the information available at this time we expect to resume normal operations in outpatient areas including Lab, Diagnostic Imaging and Day Surgery at South Shore Regional Hospital on Monday morning. The hospital will reopen to visitors at 7 p.m. this evening.

We still do not know what caused the explosion. The Department of Environment and Labour is investigating.

We appreciate the quick response of our staff, physicians and volunteers, the local police and fire department, Emergency Health Services and Emergency Measures Organization.