Saskatoon - Thanks to the quick actions of several Saskatoon Health Region employees in the middle of the night, the Region has averted major damage to parts of Royal University Hospital. A water pipe burst at RUH around midnight today causing water to gush through the pediatric outpatient area, into the main mall, around the recovery room, the coronary care unit, and the operating room area. Staff who noticed the water reacted quickly to move equipment and began immediate clean up.

Since then, the Region has assessed the situation and minimized the impact on patients by adjusting the surgery schedule, using alternative areas for pediatric outpatient services and temporarily moving patients as needed.

• Facilities Management and Support Services staff along with Infection Prevention and Control practitioners have assessed the damage and monitored moisture levels and have determined the following:

• Pediatric outpatients is the area most affected and will continue to use other space to see patients tomorrow.
• Crews are replacing tiles in the recovery room to allow for the area to be open to patients tomorrow.
• The operating rooms remain open.
• The coronary care unit is still being monitored, however most of the space is dry, clean and able to accept patients.
• The Medicine Shoppe located in the main mall remains closed temporarily.

• Client Representatives will continue to help patients navigate around affected areas today and tomorrow.

We ask people to proceed to their originally scheduled appointments unless contacted by their physician or surgeon with alternate plans.