It could be days or even weeks before the Leader and District Integrated Healthcare Facility is back up and running.

Last Thursday the facility suffered a sprinkler line break in the older portion of the building that led to flooding and the heat and power being shut off.

Derek Miller, the executive director of infrastructure management with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said their investigation revealed the flooding was caused by a lack of sufficient insulation for the sprinkler lines to protect again extreme cold.

"The break occurred in the ceiling bulkhead in the long-term care side of the building, causing water to enter the hallway linking the long-term care side with the acute care side of the facility," he explained. "The extent of the damages included drywall, base coats, flooring, two electrical panels, the fire sprinkler system itself, and some other components that were in the impacted space."

While the damage was being assessed and remediation was beginning, a second sprinkler line broke in the same space.

"It was caused by existing ice in the line," Miller said. "In this case the amount of water was limited and minimal additional damage was caused."

The SHA and contractors are now working to flush the sprinkler lines and make sure there is no ice left in the lines before they're repressurized.

"We will repair any issues we encounter," he said. "The SHA is also seeking advice from the building's architect to assess potentially related design or construction deficiencies. The facility still requires drying time and then needs to be inspected to ensure it is fully cleaned up and free of contaminants before we resume resident and patient care."

According to Miller, the SHA is working with their insurance adjuster on the incident, although it's unknown if insurance will cover the damage and how much it will cost to have everything repaired.

Twenty-five residents were affected at the time of the hospital's closure, which sent patients to several other communities.

As of this morning, the SHA said five were sent home, one person is at the Meadows in Swift Current, and the rest are at healthcare facilities in Cabri, Kindersley, and Maple Creek.

"We also continue to check on our residents who have been relocated to their families' homes," Brenda Schwan, the executive director of continuing care with the SHA, said. "There is a plan in place currently for their medication and home care is also checking up on these residents. At this time everyone is comfortable and we continue to keep in touch with them regularly."

The closest primary healthcare services are in Cabri, Kindersley, Maple Creek, and Eatonia and for emergencies the ambulance service out of Leader is still running.