NWRHA: No fires at PoS hospital

The NWRHA issued a release responding to comments made by fire officers of the Belmont Police Station regarding toxic fumes from the burning of “hazardous items.”

A fire officer said the hazardous waste was discarded in two dumpsters and the mortuary was close to where the waste is discarded.

These concerns were highlighted when Belmont officers abandoned their fire station on Wednesday due to conditions at the building. The NWRHA said the mortuary at the PoSGH was routinely cleaned on a daily basis to ensure that all employees working in and around the facility were exposed to a sanitised, stench-free and rodent-free environment. The NWRHA said, “On occasion the Ministry of National Security will utilise the hospital’s mortuary facility as a storage for badly decomposed bodies due to lack of storage facilities elsewhere.

This may be the cause of the stench which was of concern to the officers.” It said this was an infrequent practice and all bodies were immediately placed securely in freezers.