Patients return to ICU after unit fire

Patients have been transfered back to Timaru Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU) after they were evacuated when a fire started in a sterilising unit on Monday.

Fire crews from Washdyke, Timaru, and Temuka were called to the hospital on Monday morning after reports of the electrical fire in the ICU, which is on the hospital’s fifth floor.

The fire was contained in the sterilising unit and was put out by hospital staff member using a fire extinguisher.

The staffer then called for help, South Canterbury District Health Board director of clinical services and chief medical officer Dr Steve Earnshaw confirmed.

South Canterbury District Health Board communications manager Natasha Hoskins said the ICU reopened on Tuesday and four patients were transferred back tot he ICU from the hospital’s surgical ward.

New admissions to the ICU were accepted from 12.30pm, Hoskins said.

No patients were transferred away from the hospital during the period.

Earnshaw praised hospital staff members for their rapid and effective response to the incident.

‘‘We are very proud of the way our staff have managed the incident,’’ he said.

Fire Service Mid and South Canterbury fire risk manager Murray Cairns said it was especially important ‘‘looking at what’s happened in the UK’’ recently that staff knew their evacuation protocol for their patients and themselves and also knew how to use a fire extinguisher if need be’’.

All extinguishers had instructions on how to use them and if staff felt confident using a fire extinguisher then such early proactive intervention was recommended.

It was ‘‘lucky’’ the fire had not been any worse. Had it been, sprinklers would have helped put out the flames, Cairns said.