By Angela Hill

Victoria Hospital, bedbug free

Nov 19, 2010 | 5:10 AM

The Victoria Hospital appears to be free of bedbugs.

This comes two weeks after some of the parasitic insects were found in two patient rooms.

“Currently we have no indication that there are any more bed bugs in the facility. Staff … have been asked to be very vigilant in the last two weeks and there’s been no reports of any (more),” said Doug Dahl, communications officer for the Prince Albert Parkland Health Region.

“I think it definitely was a credit to our staff that they were able to spot something like the bedbugs quickly … The staff did a fantastic job in reacting and responding and limiting the scope of this.”

Without the quick response of the staff that included thorough cleaning by environmental services and their contracted pest company, the bugs could have created a much larger problem, he said.

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While this is the first time the health region has had bed bugs reported in any of their facilities, it won’t change any region policies, Dahl said, because they are already doing a good job.

“I don’t think it’s necessarily changed anything. I think we were very vigilant about anything like bedbugs or anything else that could come into the hospital with patients or other people who come into the hospital.

It’s important for our staff to be vigilant about anything that may come in for the protection of the patients,” he said.

“If something is in the community it may, eventually find its way to the hospital. I think the important for us is to be sure we are monitoring what’s happening and be able to respond quality to limit the potential impact.”

There are increasing numbers of bedbugs being seen across North America, Saskatchewan and Prince Albert are not exceptions.

ahill@panow.com