Surgeries cancelled after flood at Hull Hospital

Mopping up after flood at Hull Hospital could take up to 10 days

Ten surgeries at the Hull Hospital were cancelled Thursday after a contractor broke a pipe and caused major flooding on five floors.

The Outaouais integrated health and social services centre (CISSS de l'Outaouais) said in a media release 15 more surgeries scheduled for Friday will also have to be cancelled as the hospital cleans up the mess.

A total of 28 patients had to be moved elsewhere in the hospital, including 13 in intensive care on the third floor.

The release said regular operations on the fourth and second floors, including the respiratory and endoscopy clinics, are suspended until further notice. "Urgent care" is still being delivered, the release added.

The worst water damage was sustained on the fourth and third floors, said Benoit Gauthier, a spokesperson for the CISSS de l'Outaouais, at a news conference early Thursday afternoon.

CISSS de l'Outaouais is continuing to monitor the situation and said a contingency plan is in place to keep users safe.