Perth-Andover hospital reopens after flood threat

Patients are returning to a hospital in Perth-Andover, N.B., after a flood risk led to the building being cleared.

The Hotel-Dieu of Saint Joseph Hospital was emptied nine days ago when the St. John River appeared poised to flood the area.

Diane Albert of Plaster Rock had been in hospitalfor four days for a lung infection when she learned she and 15 other patients were moving to the Waterville hospital, which is 60 kilometres away.

We had welcome home signs, we had ambulance attendants walking us to our rooms ... It was great.- Diane Albert

"Everything just went great," she said of her return this weekend.

"We got there and all of our nurses were there. It was nice. We came off the elevator, all our nurses were there. Familiar faces."

She praised staff for the smooth transition.

"We had welcome home signs, we had ambulance attendants walking us to our rooms, and the nurses all happy to see us back. It was great."

Officials cleared the building on April 16 when one of the evacuation routes washed out.

Dean Cummings of Horizon Health said flooding in 2012 helped officials plan the evacuation.

"Everything went very smoothly. Staff came together and we worked well as a team," he said.

The river did not flood the hospital this time. Most services resumed Tuesday and most patients were back by Friday.