Victoria General leak forces heating system shutdown in north wing

Water leaks that started on Tuesday have createdmoreheadaches for staff at Halifax's Victoria General hospital.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority says a series of leaks from the hospital's hot water heating system in the north wing have forced the shutdown of heaters in patient rooms.

The leaks have damaged and led to the closure ofa section of a chemotherapy drug preparation area on the sixth floor.

It is just the latest problem to plague the aging complex. This fall, a pipe burst in theCentennial Building, severely damaging two floors.

Operations director Victoria Sullivan saidthe heating system leaks were first reported on Tuesday andoriginated on the sixth floor. When the water was shut off, heaters fromthe 11th floor down were affected.

"I can't quantify it," Sullivan told CBC News. "But there were various reports of different levels of leaks. The most extensive leak was on the sixth floor."

To compensate for any temperature change, staff have increased hotair flow through a duct system that runs throughcorridors and the hospital's central section. The hope, Sullivan said, is the hot air will enterrooms whereheaters are shut off.

Repair work on the heating system is expected to be completed by Thursday.

Sullivan saidshe's not heard any feedback about the temperature from patients.

"I think all efforts would have been made to make patients comfortable, and staff, as much as possible," she said.

Drug preparation area

Sullivan saidthis week in January is always busyfor chemotherapy treatment. Delays aren't unusual because of recent statutory holidays and an influx of patients who choose to put treatment off during that period.

Given part of their work area is shut down, several staffin chemotherapy drug preparation section are being asked to work extended hoursto make sure patients get what they need.

"They worked very hard and did some overtime as well to try to minimize the delays resulting from this specific incident," she said.

Sullivan saidthe leaks have caused minordelays. The director of pharmacy told her staff were able to complete all their drug preparations by 3:30 p.m. and turn the entire area over to those repairing damage from the leaks.

The repairs to this area may take a little longer than those to the heating system, Sullivan said.No other sections in the hospital wereaffected.