Repairs at the Rand Memorial Hospital will cost over $100,000 this according to Minister of Health Dr. Duane Sands.

This in large part to remediation, temporary housing, overtime and repairs after patients and staff were evacuated from the Rand Memorial Hospital on Friday as a result of a fire in the kitchen.

According to the minister of health there were no serious injuries to patients and three staff members were treated for smoke inhalation. One of the victims, a doctor who was a part of the response team, is recovering in hospital.

“At about 2:30 p.m. on Friday, the deep fryer, located in the kitchen caught ablaze. As a result, the staff working in the kitchen attempted to extinguish the fire. But their attempts were not successful. The fire services were summoned and they responded immediately, at about 2:48 p.m.,” Mr. Sands said.

“Staff members and patients were evacuated to designated areas because of primarily smoke throughout the hospital. Non-acute, or stable patients, were transferred to Christ the King from the surgical, medical, obstetric, and pediatric areas. And those patients are being housed and managed by physicians, nursing staff and other staff until further notice.

“Intensive care patients and special care baby unit patients were transferred to Sunrise Medical Centre where they are continuing to be managed by Rand Memorial Hospital staff. Two acutely ill patients, who were previously scheduled for transfer to Nassau, have also been sent to the Sunrise Medical Centre where they continue to await evacuation tonight.

“There were no injuries or casualties to patients during the blaze, the resultant smoke or the evacuation process. There were three staff members who suffered mild smoke inhalation problems and have been treated. One of them remains in hospital.

“There are now six adult patients at Sunrise, one obstetric patient who is in active labor, five Intensive Care Unit patients – two of whom, as I mentioned, will be leaving by air ambulance. There are five newborn special care baby patients.

“There are 37 patients at Christ the King – one nursery patient, three pediatric patients, 14 medical patients and 14 surgical patients.”

As a result of the fire, the following changes in services will be in effect until further notice. Non-urgent cases should seek care at the Out Patient Special Care Unit on Coral Road and the Eight Mile Rock Clinic until further notice. Any pregnant woman with pregnancy-related concerns should go to the Sunrise Medical Centre.

Services will remain open at the Emergency Room at the Rand Memorial Hospital, but the public is asked to come to the Emergency Room only in the event of bona fide emergencies.

As a result of the damage to the kitchen, provisions have been made for meals for the staff and patients from local vendors.

The damage to the kitchen includes smoke damage to the kitchen, the ceiling, the electrical wiring in the kitchen and smoke permeating some of the surrounding wards.

The staff and external contracts will work to get things running again as soon as possible, said the minister.