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By Richard Wilson, Staff Writer Updated 12:43 PM Friday, June 26, 2009

HAMILTON — Patients are being diverted from Ft. Hamilton Hospital to West Chester Medical Center or Mercy Hospital because of the city’s widespread power outage.

Dispatchers and EMS crews have been told not to direct any ambulances to the hospital until power is restored.

Hospital personnel are able to stabilize patients, but are not able to do any surgical procedures, a hospital spokesperson said.

The hospital has been functioning on an auxiliary generator since last night. There is currently no air conditioning in the hospital and the lobby is dark.

City and hospital officials said Ft. Hamilton is high on the city’s priority list for restoring power.

“It’s extremely rare that we ever have to go on diversion,” said Marielou Veirling, hospital spokeswoman. “All the managers are deployed. We are well-staffed. We are trying to be sympathetic to patients and keep them informed.”

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2122 or rwilson@coxohio.com.

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