Nurses aid patients affected by burst water pipe

August 14, 2018

Featured in the Halesowen News
Monday 30 July

QUICK-thinking nurses and volunteers from a Black Country hospital trust came to the rescue of patients living near the burst water main near Burnt Tree Traffic Lights.

Staff from Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs Rowley Regis Hospital, joined volunteers from the British Red Cross to take out vital supplies to residents affected by the incident on Friday (July 27).

South Staffs Water were sent to the scene of the burst main on the Birmingham New Road at about 5am on Friday morning, before workers fixed the issue later that day.

The affected section of the major Black Country road was closed for a number of hours after the burst sewage pipe left the street under a foot of waste water.

During the incident, which hit the water supply of homeowners in the surrounding area, volunteers dashed out to the homes of unwell patients who are under their community care, to top up their supply.

Ruth Williams, the trust’s clinical lead for primary care, community and therapies, said: “We were aware of our patients in the area who were without water due to the burst pipe, so we acted very quickly by sending out our community nurses and Red Cross volunteers to those homes.

“It meant that they were able ensure that those patients weren’t left dehydrated in the current heatwave, and ultimately being admitted to hospital.

“We are glad that we are able to help our patients in the community during their time in need.”