‘Frustrated’: Medical procedures, surgeries delayed by Halifax boil water advisory

An investigation is underway after Halifax was put under a boil water advisory for two days, impacting numerous services. Paul Hollingsworth explains.

Herman Pierro travelled by car for almost five hours to Halifax from Cape Breton for his lung cancer surgery, which was supposed to take place on Tuesday.

When he arrived in the city on Monday, Pierro was told his surgery had been postponed.

“They said the delay was caused by the water boil issue,” said Pierro. “This caused instruments to not be cleaned, surgeons couldn’t scrub in, so they postponed me to a further date.”

The boil water order that effected more than 200,000 Halifax Water customers has been lifted, but there are still some short-term impacts being felt. Pierro will be operated on Friday morning.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority has postponed 220 medical procedures and surgeries, and some have yet to be rescheduled.

He also had surgery for colon cancer last year. This delay was stressful for the entire family, he said.

“I am frustrated really,” said Peirro’s wife Christina. “We waited for a year since he was diagnosed, and the delay is making me more anxious, and we all feel more anxious.”

“I am more nervous as the day comes, but there are surgeons here who are really good, and I will get through this,” said Pierro. After the operation, he says he will be hospitalized for at least five days, which means his overall stay in Halifax could last close to two weeks.