Red Deer hospital operating rooms reopen after major flood

All five operating rooms destroyed by flooding last month atthe Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre have reopened.

The massive flood on March 1 damaged five of the hospital's nine operating rooms. The flooding was caused by construction taking place on the second floor.

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One of the five operating rooms was reopened last week, while the remaining four reopened Friday.A total of 309 surgeries were rescheduled as a result of the flood, Alberta Health Services spokesman Kerry Bales said.

Last month, the chief of orthopedic surgery at Red Deer Hospital said the floods crippled the facility and made a six-month waiting list even longer.

"It's been every superlative you can think of. Disaster, chaosjust unbelievable misfortune for the patients of central Alberta and Red Deer," said Dr.KeithWolstenholme.

It's extremely unlikely that this would occur again.- KerryBales, Alberta Health Services

"I can't overstate that this is a medical, surgical disaster for Red Deer and central Alberta. We serve as the referral centre for almost 500,000Albertans."

Bales said the hospital is considering bringing in more staff or extending hours to accommodate the postponed surgeries.

"We're going to be looking at what options we do have to perhaps run longer hours at the regional site or inneighbouringsites, such as Innisfail, Stettleror Olds to see what we can do to start catching up on some of that backlog."

The total cost of the damage has not yet been determined, Bales said, but that should be determined in the coming weeks.

He said a review will be done to ensure proper procedures are in place to minimize any future chance of flooding.

"It's extremely unlikely that this would occur again," he added.