Sprinkler system project underway

Phase two of a sprinkler system project at the New Waterford Consolidated Hospital is underway and scheduled to be completed in January.

“We made all the necessary arrangements and relocated services to other areas of the hospital,” said Greg Boone, spokesperson for the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

The second phase of the project is expected to cost about $900,000 and the tender was awarded to Brilun Construction of Sydney.

The work involves installing the sprinkler system on the long-term care unit, Waterford Heights, and in the physiotherapy and respiratory therapy departments on the third floor.

In preparation, 16 residents of Waterford Heights have been temporarily relocated to other long-term care facilities.

The physiotherapy department is now located in the Assembly Hall on the hospital’s main floor and the respiratory therapy unit has been moved to the library in the old nurse’s residence at the hospital.

Boone said the work will not impact walk-in services at the New Waterford hospital and people can access the lab or blood/specimen services, diagnostic imaging and the emergency department/collaborative emergency centre.

The public will also be able to visit patients on the second floor medical/surgical unit.

Some parking on the west end of the hospital facing King Street will be temporarily relocated.

The New Waterford hospital was built in the early 1960s and has never had a sprinkler system. The fire marshal recommended the system be installed.

The three-phase project began last year and included installation of the system in the operating room and the medical/surgical unit at a cost of about $300,000.

“The project is currently on schedule and we will provide a more specific update later in September,” Boone added.