The Tribune

By LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporter

lmunnings@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMAS Nurses Union president Muriel Lightbourne said nurses reported no major disruption after floodwater entered Princess Margaret Hospital’s newly renovated Accident and Emergency Department on Sunday, with the water cleared and services resumed as severe thunderstorms battered New Providence.

However, Free National Movement chairman Dr Duane Sands yesterday seized on the incident, arguing that it undermined the government’s claims of progress and reflected wider failures in the public health system.

Ms Lightbourne said the reports she received indicated that rainwater flowed into the department rather than leaking through the newly renovated building.

Water entered through the ambulance bay doors after heavy rain caused localised flooding at the hospital. Patients and staff were moved from affected areas while cleanup crews removed the water.

Ms Lightbourne said staff were already clearing the department by the time she contacted them after learning of the flooding.

Although she could not say how long the water remained inside, she said she received no formal complaints from nurses and the incident was managed appropriately.

She said staff were naturally concerned about the potential danger of standing water near electrical equipment.

“Of course, you know we were concerned with the water, and then you know depending on the rise of the water, you know there are electrical things and all that stuff. You have to be that concerned, but they were, for the most part, they were okay,” she said.

Videos and photographs circulated on social media on Sunday showed standing water in sections of the A&E Department, with people walking through affected areas wearing protective shoe covers.

Princess Margaret Hospital said the flooding did not originate from the roof or ceiling, but resulted from an “extraordinary volume” of rainwater accumulating outside the hospital before entering through the ambulance bay.

Hospital officials said the facility is in an area that was heavily affected by Sunday’s flooding and that neighbouring buildings and businesses also flooded because of the exceptional rainfall.

PMH said the affected areas were immediately cleaned and patients and staff relocated so medical services could continue. Barriers were placed at the affected entrance and ambulance access was temporarily diverted while officials assessed the area.

The hospital said it would work with relevant partners to determine what additional measures could reduce the impact of similar severe weather events while protecting patients, staff and visitors.

The flooding came just weeks after Health and Wellness Minister Dr Michael Darville announced that the long-delayed A&E redevelopment had been completed and the department was fully operational following a phased transition.

Meanwhile, Dr Sands said: “Yet again, the basic needs and concerns of ordinary citizens have taken a back seat to the champagne lifestyle of the new day, "progress" crew,” he said.

“After more than 5 years, the newly renovated A and E floors flooded. After an extended delay, to release a statement about PMH being in a flood zone really? Has it moved?”

Dr Sands linked the flooding to what he described as a pattern of infrastructure failures under the Progressive Liberal Party administration, citing recurring power outages, operating theatre problems at Princess Margaret Hospital and Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, and shortages of medication.