A shut-down of the north wing of the SIUC Health Service facility begins today due to a severe deterioration of hot water convector pipes, a Health Service official says.

Jake Baggott, Student Health Insurance and Business manager said the convector pipes, which provide heat on the north side of the building, have had minor leaks for the last couple of weeks. Due to the re-routing of the pipes, the first floor of the north wing will be without heat, he said.

The lines under the building are deteriorating and have to be replaced, Baggott said. It’s a major disruption to the facility. We have to evacuate the building.

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Baggott said because of the shut down, reduced services will be offered, and only those with serious injuries or illnesses will be treated.

We’re offering reduced services, Baggott said. There will be no routine scheduled appointments. The students with appointments have been contacted and appointments are being re-scheduled if they’re not already.

Baggott said even though the facility will be shut down, not many students will be affected by the closure.

It shouldn’t affect a great number of students, he said. The numbers drop off considerably (during break).

Baggott said Health Service normally serves 300 plus patients a day, but during break the numbers are closer to 80.

Muriel Narve, clinical services manager, said she hoped students would not be greatly affected.

I’m trying to service all these different people during difficult times and conditions, Narve said.

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Baggott said because of the reduced number of students served during holiday break, the staff, some of whom are students, at Health Services, would not be affected by the temporary shut-down. He said many of the staff had scheduled vacations over the construction.

It won’t affect anyone in a detrimental sort of way, he said.

The north wing includes the first floor general examining rooms. Appointment scheduling, the waiting room, the lab and x-ray facility will remain open during the construction.

Baggott said the preliminary cost of the project was $27,000 and will take approximately three weeks.

Health Services will maintain regular business hours and will offer full-range services beginning on Jan. 8, Baggott said.