Bomb threat clears hospital
2008-01-13 22:53
Klerksdorp - Patients at Wilmed Park Hospital had to be hastily evacuated in their beds, wheelchairs and with the help of staff after a bomb threat.
The entire hospital was evacuated after the bomb threat about 11:15 on Saturday.
Marlize van Wyk, duty nursing manager, said they had received a call on the emergency telephone in the operating theatre.
This telephone is reserved for emergencies, in case the switchboard or the hospital's phone lines are out of order. The number is not widely known and is not listed in the telephone directory.
"It's very worrying," said Van Wyk. "Most of the staff don't even know that number."
An English-speaking man said there was a bomb in a refuse bin in one of the wards.
The hospital was cleared within 45 minutes, while police combed the building.
Van Wyk said: "The emergency services got here very quickly."
A few patients in the intensive-care and neo-natal units, including a baby weighing just 700g, could not be moved, because they were hooked up to life-support equipment.
Van Wyk said fire-service staff remained inside with the patients who could not be evacuated.
Outside, patients waited in overcast weather until the building had been declared safe.
Van Wyk said: "We were afraid it was going to start raining."
The bomb threat was received during the morning visiting hour and worried family and friends also had to leave the building.
A few patients traumatised
A family member, who did not want to be identified, told Volksblad the grounds had been cordoned off and no one was allowed in.
"We had no idea what was happening. There were lots of police officers and ambulances, but we couldn't find out what was going on."
He waited outside the hospital for about two hours.
Van Wyk said most of the patients had been calm.
"But, a few were traumatised and our entire routine was messed up."
Provincial police spokesperson Aafje Botma confirmed the bomb threat.
"The hospital was searched, but nothing was found," she said.