Failling Sterilization Equipment in NF-LToday on the Canadain Press
ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Newfoundland and Labrador's largest health authority is postponing all elective surgeries scheduled for Monday and Tuesday because of concerns with the sterilization of surgical equipment.
Eastern Health says the issue was discovered during a routine visual inspection at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital in St. John's when a stain was noticed on equipment by surgical staff.
The authority says during its investigation, officials found other instances of sterile devices failing visual inspection at St. Clare's Mercy Hospital and two other St. John's hospitals: the Heath Sciences Centre and Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre.
President and CEO David Diamond says postponing non-urgent surgeries ensures the availability of sterile surgical equipment for emergency and urgent cases.
Diamond says the authority is sending medical equipment for sterilization and is making arrangements to acquire sterile equipment so that elective surgeries can resume.
He says no patients have been harmed as a result of the situation.