Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Health and Social Services, getting back to my Member’s statement where I talked about the status of the sterilization equipment located at Stanton Hospital. This equipment is used to sterilize surgical instruments for performance in the operating room. I’d like to ask the Minister, if I can begin by asking her what the current status of the sterilization equipment is that’s required to sterilize these instruments at that hospital.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Minister of Health and Social Services, Ms. Lee.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to thank the Member for the question. Mr. Speaker, I can advise you that Stanton has identified three definite and two possible post-surgical site infections. In June a quality audit of all processes from the CSR to patient care units was conducted to ensure that Stanton was following best practices. Dr. Kandola, chief public health officer, reviewed the audit and has endorsed the practices Stanton has followed. Surgical site infections are a risk for all surgeries.
I can also advise the House that Stanton’s SSI rate has been within the national average of 3 percent over the last number of years. Mr. Speaker, the staff and the management of the authority are on top of this issue. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, June was eight months ago. I’m wondering, if I could, to the Minister: when did the hospital become aware of the deficiencies with that equipment and once the deficiencies were found, were operations still conducted, were surgeries still conducted at that hospital in light of the findings of that report in June? Thank you.
Infection control and the review of incidents of infections is a part of the regular business in running a hospital. Our hospital keeps up with all of the national standards and they are engaged in constant review. Mr. Speaker, the management are in touch with what is happening at the hospital and they take action as it becomes necessary. I can also advise the Member, following on his Member’s statement, there are restricted numbers of surgeries being conducted at the hospital because they are waiting for parts for their surgical sterilization equipment. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, if they’re waiting for parts, I’m just wondering how long has this been going on for. My understanding is it’s been three weeks that surgeries have been cancelled at that hospital and only emergency surgeries are being performed. I’d like to ask the Minister how long has this been going on. I will wait and ask another question after that. Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, we should be aware that surgeons and the staff can organize and cancel surgeries at any time if they have any concern with the scheduling or the equipment or any of the procedures. I think it’s important for everybody to know that all the procedures followed are the ones that are accepted nationally. We don’t have any more infection incidents than any other parts of the country. We are, in fact, below the national standard. All instruments used in the OR meet current Canadian Standards Association standards for sterilization.
Mr. Speaker, the decisions they make about reorganizing schedules and cancelling surgeries as required, the staff make those decisions all the time. I need to make sure that the people are aware that the authority is aware of this, the surgeons are aware of this, management is aware of this. They’re taking all appropriate actions and while we are working to address this issue, we should not be causing undue alarm. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. Your final supplementary, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It sounds like surgeries are being cancelled because the hospital is waiting for parts. I’d like to think it has nothing to do with increased rates of post-operative infection, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to ask the Minister: have we seen an increase in post-operative infections at that hospital going back the last four months? Thank you.
As I stated earlier, we’ve had three definite infections and two possible other infections. Infection control in hospital settings is an increasing concern nationally. It is a discussion that all of the health care professionals are engaged in. This could break out at any time and the important thing is that we have the confidence in the staff that we have, that they are equipped and qualified and knowledgeable to address that. The public health officer has reviewed the process and we are meeting all national guidelines. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Lee. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.
