Slowdown in surgeries at the St. Mary's Hospital Centre

POINTE-CLAIRE, QC, Nov. 3, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - As a preventive measure, St. Mary's Hospital Centre of the Montreal West Island IUHSSC has slowed down the pace of its surgeries starting on October 28^th, because of a problem with the sterilization of surgical instruments. This, however, does not impact safety or the quality of care for users. The slowdown is due to necessary measures to ensure the perfect quality of the sterilization process. St. Mary's Hospital is doing everything in its power to reduce impacts and is maintaining urgent procedures.

As soon as the problem emerged, steps were immediately taken:

• A parallel instrument sterilization process was organized, i.e. sterilization being done in another facility of the Montreal West Island IUHSSC;
• Also, borrowing agreements of surgical instrument trays have also been concluded between St. Mary's Hospital and other Montreal hospitals in order to cover emergencies;
• Discussions are under way to have surgical procedures conducted in other hospitals.

All users whose surgeries have been cancelled or postponed have been contacted personally. Users can call the following number: 514 630-2123.

Problems with instrument sterilization are rare, but not exceptional.

The Montreal West Island Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre emerged from the grouping of the West-Island HSSC, the CSSS Dorval-Lachine-LaSalle, the St. Mary's Hospital Centre, the Douglas Mental Health University Institute, the West Montreal Readaptation Centre, the Grace Dart Extended Care Centre and Batshaw Youth and Family Centres. It includes no less than 9000 employees and 750 physicians.

SOURCE Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de l'Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CIUSSS)

Claire Roy, 514 630-2225, ext. 5257