Hospital remains closed after sewage leak

Parts of Palmerston North Hospital remain closed after raw sewage seeped out of ceilings and through walls.

The leak was caused by a pair of scissors, a knife and an incontinence pad blocking a pipe earlier in the week. Dozens of patients and staff had to be evacuated and hundreds more will be affected until the clean-up is over.

Surgical Services group manager Brett Sheehan says the cost of the damage has yet to be determined. It will take the rest of the week to return the area to infection control standards.

Hospital spokesman Dennis Geddis hopes to have 60 per cent of the out-patient clinics running again by Monday but it will be several weeks before the rest of the hospital is operational.

- NEWSTALK ZB