600 patients affected by pause in endoscopy procedures at Halifax hospital

Wait times for endoscopy and ENT procedures at the Victoria General Hospital in Halifax have gotten even longer.

A technical issue when it comes to cleaning the scopes has put endoscopy and ENT procedures on pause, CTV News first reported Tuesday.

The issue first arose on July 20, when a quality assurance test at the Halifax hospital found an issue with the reprocessing machines used to clean scopes prior to endoscopy.

No one from Nova Scotia Health was available for an interview Wednesday, but Dr. Madelaine Plourde told CTV News that “black flecks” were found in the water.

In an emailed statement Wednesday, Nova Scotia Health spokeswoman Jennifer Lewandowski said several machines of “varying ages and locations” at the Victoria General Hospital were affected. 

“We are conducting a thorough and methodical investigation into the possible source of the black flecks before we can move to a solution that involves replacing the equipment. This includes several comprehensive water tests and engaging an external consultant to evaluate the water,” Lewandowski said. 

Lewandowski said no patients had procedures with the affected scopes.

As a result of the issue, about 600 people have had their procedures delayed or rebooked.

Patients who were scheduled to have an endoscopy at the Victoria General Hospital will now either have to wait or seek the procedure elsewhere.

“Nova Scotia Health has been contacting patients scheduled for endoscopy and ENT procedures at the Victoria General (VG) site of the QEII to offer them appointments with the same doctors at other sites within the central zone or to reschedule their appointments at the QEII in the future,” Lewandowski said.

Heather Mulligan, the Canadian Cancer Society’s manager of advocacy for Atlantic Canada, said any delay in screening is a concern.

“We know that the screening tests, like endoscopies, help find different types of cancer before the patient has any symptoms,” Mulligan said. “When cancer is found and treated early, the outcomes for patients are better.”

Mulligan said COVID-19 caused similar delays for people, who reached out to the society to share concerns that it had taken a toll on their mental health and well-being.

“We know that the screening tests, like endoscopies, help find different types of cancer before the patient has any symptoms.” 

– Heather Mulligan

“We hope that all patients are receiving timely communications from the Nova Scotia Health Authority and appropriate support in rebooking their appointments and experience no further delays in accessing these vital screenings,” Mulligan said.

Lewandowski said as of Wednesday afternoon, Nova Scotia Health is only doing urgent and emergent procedures at the QEII “with alternate equipment.”

No surgeries have been affected.

The delay in appointments does set back Nova Scotia Health, who had completed roughly 300 more endoscopy cases at facilities in the central zone in comparison to the same period last year.