St. Boniface Hospital (FILE)
WINNIPEG — St. Boniface Hospital has temporarily closed nine operating rooms due to a malfunctioning air handling system.
The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority announced Wednesday the closures will impact surgeries scheduled for the remainder of this week at the hospital. Repairs are expected to be completed by late Friday.
“Emergency surgeries, both for cardiac patients and other emergency procedures, will continue to be available at St. Boniface for the remainder of the week,” said Krista Williams, chief health operations officer with the WRHA.
Williams says additional capacity at other hospitals is being made to accommodate patients scheduled for 16 surgeries today and Thursday. Another 12 surgeries, including some elective cardiac procedures, were postponed and will be rescheduled as soon as possible.
The WRHA says not all surgical suites are in use over the summer months, which is reducing the impact of OR closures at St. Boniface Hospital. Of the 14 procedure rooms at the hospital, five suites remain open for emergency surgeries.
