WATCH: There are more problems at the troubled Misericordia hospital. As Shallima Maharaj explains, a clogged drainage line was discovered by workers.
EDMONTON — A clogged drainage line is the latest concern at the problem-plagued Misericordia Hospital in west Edmonton.
The clogged line is located in the medical reprocessing area where hospital equipment is sterilized. It was discovered when workers were running equipment overnight to clean supplies.
Staff heard the sound of flowing water while in a small freight elevator that moves supplies. Workers also noticed a high-pressure back up, so the water source that would have drained into that part of the hospital was shut down.
“We don’t know the full impact to people right now, but what we’re doing is ensuring we’re doing as many cases as we can today,” said Janet Schimpf of Covenant Health.
“For those people [who] may be impacted, we are going to make sure that they are rebooked in the very near future.”
The hospital has seen its share of water problems in the past. A flood in May 2013 forced more than 50 patients and more than 160 staff to be transferred to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. The hospital also experienced flooding twice in just three weeks this past summer due to heavy rainfall.
READ MORE: Surgeries, procedures delayed at Misericordia Hospital due to flooding
Last month, it was once again struck by flooding.
Covenant Health says it doesn’t know what caused the latest problem, but maintains that the hospital is safe.
READ MORE: Infrastructure problems present in almost every Edmonton health facility: report
A recent Alberta Health Services review found of Edmonton hospitals, the Misericordia and the Royal Alexandra have the most problems.
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