Manitoba hospital closed due to air cooling system malfunction

Three local care homes are without central air conditioning as a heat wave rolls through the province.

A hospital in a southern Manitoba town is temporarily closed due to a malfunction with its air cooling system.

According to Southern Health, Ste-Anne Hospital has been closed since Monday, with repairs currently underway. This means inpatient and outpatient services, including diagnostics, same-day procedures and emergency services, are temporarily unavailable.

The health region notes the repairs are necessary for creating a safe environment, especially with the province’s recent heat wave.

Patients who require emergency care during the closure should call 911 or go to the nearest available emergency department. Those in need of non-urgent medical care should contact their primary care provider, visit a local clinic or call Health Links.

Patients with appointments or procedures scheduled during the closure will be contacted directly.

This closure comes days after CTV News reported on three local care homes without central air conditioning.

According to the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, Middlechurch Home, Donwood Personal Care Home and Pembina Place Personal Care Home are all dealing with AC issues. Repairs and mitigation efforts are underway at all three facilities.