All elective surgeries at St. Mary’s General Hospital have been cancelled for the rest of the week, hospital officials say – and emergency surgeries will take place off-site until further notice.
Surgeries had initially been cancelled for Monday and Tuesday following a water main break which occurred in the hospital’s basement early Sunday morning, damaging sterilization equipment.
Some supplies used in surgical procedures were also damaged, and the hospital is awaiting replacements.
“It has been all hands on deck and teams have been working around the clock to try and get services up and running as soon as possible,” hospital president Don Shilton said in a news release.
“While we regret when we have to cancel surgery, it is being done with patient safety in mind.”
All patients affected by surgery cancellations have been notified directly, the release said.
Hospital officials say they’ll determine what to do about surgeries scheduled for next week on Friday.
Visitor restrictions also remain in place, although special considerations may be made for patients in critical and palliative care units.
Anyone with questions is asked to contact the hospital by phoning 519-749-6788.
