Wards re-open following Alnagelvin Hospital fire

Five of the seven wards evacuated during Friday night’s fire at Altnagelvin Hospital have now reopened.
120 patients where evacuated when a fire broke out on the top floor of the hospital building causing a pipe to burst which presented a flooding risk.
Two other wards remain closed and patients are being cared for in other areas of the hospital.
The Western Trust confirmed that some planned surgery will go ahead on Monday but 33 procedures have had to be cancelled. Patients affected by the cancellations will be contacted directly by hospital staff.
The hospital’s emergency services are continuing to operate as normal and normal visiting arrangements apply.
Meanwhile Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, but the chairman of the Western Trust has commented that building, which is the oldest part of the facility had been a known fire risk.
It has also emerged that hospital management has previously submitted proposals to the department of Health to make the facility safer.