Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to again speak today about the issue of sterilization equipment at Stanton Hospital. It is not my intention to cause undue alarm as the Minister stated yesterday, I just want to ensure that I get the right information out there for the public. The information I’m after for residents, and as if having a procedure such as a hip replacement is not a traumatic enough experience, can you imagine what it would feel like to get an infection which requires the massive wound to be reopened, cleaned and then closed up again? This is what I’m questioning.
When were elective surgeries cancelled? What surgeries have taken place between then and now? The Minister states that post-operative infection rates have been below the national average for the period of 2006 to 2009 and that there is nothing to worry about. When did the five infections she mentioned yesterday in the House actually occur?
Also I’d like to understand what the Minister mentioned yesterday in regard to waiting for parts. What parts are they waiting for and where are they coming from? With elective surgeries being cancelled, is that not going to put our residents awaiting surgeries in a difficult and sometimes painful holding pattern? We need to get this situation rectified as soon as possible so that the hospital can get back to providing the valuable services it does provide to our residents.
This whole episode, as well, has got to be hard on the great staff that we have out at that hospital and CSR in the operating room, and I know that they’re patiently waiting to put this all behind us and move forward.
