By LEANDRA ROLLE

Tribune Chief Reporter

lrolle@tribunemedia.net

POLICE warned the public against making false threats after a bomb scare at Doctor’s Hospital forced dozens to evacuate on Friday afternoon.

Police said an anonymous caller phoned the health facility around 3pm, claiming there was a bomb in the emergency room. 

Officers responded immediately, cleared the area, and blocked off sections of Shirley Street.

When The Tribune arrived, staff were standing outside in designated zones.

Doctors Hospital president and CEO Dr Charles Diggiss said the threat prompted officials to evacuate the entire Emergency Room floor. 

Between 50 and 70 staff members left the building, while five patients were moved to the hospital’s western facility or Paradise Island location. Others were discharged.

An all-clear was given around 5pm after checks of the hospital and surrounding areas found nothing.

Dr Diggiss praised the staff and police for their swift response.

“We would like to think at any point of time that our associates, if this were to reoccur, would respond in a similar manner,” he told reporters. “They were prompt. They were appropriate. They followed the policy, and the police response was more than impressive.”

“So overall, the report in this instance, even though nothing materialised, was impressive.” 

Inspector John Roker of the Police Anti-Terrorism Unit said investigations into the incident will continue, but he warned against making false threats.

He noted that such hoaxes, especially at a medical facility, could cost lives by forcing the relocation of staff who may be needed for life-saving care.

“There’s a lot of resources that goes to responding to calls such as this,” he said. “It is very sensitive. You have patients involved. You can cause somebody’s death by the number of evacuations if you have doctors and nurses leaving the compound and it’s against the law and investigations will be ongoing.”