Hospital closure extended in Dauphin following flood

David Bosiak, mayor of Dauphin, Manitoba, gives an update on the state of emergency still in place.

Dauphin’s hospital will remain closed longer following recent flooding in the city.

Shared Health posted Wednesday that the closure of the Dauphin Regional Health Centre (DRHC) will be extended to allow for repairs to be completed.

“While initial response efforts have allowed us to better understand the impacts to the facility, extensive damage to critical infrastructure particularly within the basement level of the DRHC has been identified,” a news release from Shared Health reads.

“As a result, the closure of the DRHC will need to remain in effect for an extended period while assessments, repairs, and remediation activities are completed.”

The hospital evacuated 54 patients Sunday as floodwaters swamped the basement, damaging the HVAC systems, backup generators and computer systems. An assessment clinic was set up near the hospital.

Shared Health said the priority for the hospital is getting the emergency department and diagnostic services operational again.

Nearby emergency departments include Ste. Rose, which is open 24/7, and the Grandview Emergency Department, which is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Residents are urged to call Health Links at 1-888-315-9257 for non-urgent care needs, and 911 during emergencies.