Halifax Infirmary waiting on cause of sterilization equipment problems

An additional 30 non-urgent surgeries were cancelled Friday at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax due to equipmentsterilization problems.

That brings the total number of non-urgent surgeries cancelled since the beginning of the weekto 342.

On Thursday, Nova Scotia Health Minister Leo Glavine said $1 million may have to be spent to replace the malfunctioning sterilization equipment at the Halifax Infirmary.

At least one doctor has questioned whether the province should take a more proactive approach to renewing equipment, pointing out that patients who have waited months for their surgeries now face having their procedures postponed.

Hospital staff noticed a fine black dust on sterilized surgery trays on April 11 and determined the sterilization process wasn't working, according to the Nova Scotia Health Authority.

Everton McLean, a spokesman for the Nova Scotia Health Authority, saidhospital officials are awaiting the results of an investigation into the dust.

All urgent and emergency procedures will continue with equipment sterilized at other facilities.