Vanessa Unwil and Stuart Prosser welcoming Peter Stanton back to the hospital.
Camera IconVanessa Unwil and Stuart Prosser welcoming Peter Stanton back to the hospital. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Patients return to St John of God Mt Lawley hospital after fire

Giovanni TorreEastern Reporter

ST JOHN of God Mt Lawley Hospital welcomed back patients todaywho had been transferred to other hospitals following a fire in the hospital’s kitchen on November 1.

St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital acting chief executive Ben Edwards said surgery recommenced at the hospital today and transferred patients have returned.

“I cannot thank enough our people for their dedication and professionalism over the past few days that enabled all areas of the hospital to open today,” he said.

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“Thanks to the tremendous efforts of our employees and doctors, the vast majority of our booked patients were treated at other St John of God hospitals over the past six days.”

Mr Edwards praised the efforts of staff at St John’s Subiaco, Midland and Murdoch hospitals.

“It is fantastic to welcome back our transferred patients today and re-open the doors to our theatre, maternity, surgical, medical and rehabilitation wards and recommence the high quality care associated with these areas,” he said.

On the night of the fire, 77 patients in the affected areas were evacuated in line with the hospital’s emergency procedures.

Seventy-five patients were transferred to St John of God Subiaco and St John of God Midland Private Hospitals and two maternity patients taken to King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Patients in the Ursula Frayne Unit and the Restorative Unit were unaffected by the fire and not evacuated.

The fire also had no impact on the hospital’s medical consulting suites, SKG Radiology, Mercy Physiotherapy and St John of God Pathology.

The fire, which was detected in the kitchen of the main hospital building about 7pm last Tuesday, November 1, was extinguished promptly but caused smoke damage.