Strange odour causes precautionary evac at MHRH

By Collin Gallant on February 16, 2018.

Emergency services responded to a call at the hospital midday Thursday while some staff and patients were moved from 4West to the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre. The cause for concern was an unusual odour caused by ongoing construction outside the hospital.--NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER

Medicine Hat News

Patients and workers in several areas of Medicine Hat Regional hospital were briefly moved to other wards Thursday after nearby construction work created a chemical odour in parts of the facility.

An Alberta Helath Services spokeperson said the temporary relocation was needed, and by the late afternoon operations were returning to normal.

Medicine Hat fire crews responded to investigate the smell, determined to have been caused by construction crews outside the hospital that were relining storm sewer lines with epoxy.

Staff and patients in 4West, the Margery E. Yuill Cancer Centre and the laboratory were moved elsewhere as a precaution, AHS release states.