KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Health, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, has commended the management of Ladysmith Regional Hospital, as well as the team from Ladysmith Municipality disaster management for their prompt response when a fire broke out at the hospital late last night.
The linen room; orthopaedics doctors’ office; wards 1 and 2; as well as the kitchen and the store rooms were damaged by the fire, which is suspected to have been caused by an electrical fault.
The hospital has an 81% bed occupancy rate, but there were no reported injuries to both staff and patients – all due to the prompt response by the disaster management teams. The MEC has also announced that even though there were power cuts immediately after the outbreak of the fire, the situation at the hospital is back to normal.
An intensive investigation is underway, but preliminary findings point to a possible spontaneous combustion due to a suspected electrical wire spark.
Dr Dhlomo said: “We thank the quick response of the Municipality Emergency Fire Services, as well as the hospital management who had to evacuate all the patients and staff from all the affected wards. We highly commend the state of preparedness shown in dealing with this emergency, as no patient was injured in this episode.”
Contact:
Desmond Motha
Cell: 083 295 3901
