Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE  — Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare said Friday that its CT scanner at South Muskoka Memorial Hospital is fully operational, and that CT services have resumed as normal.

However surgical services remain temporarily moved to Huntsville District Memorial Hospital — for at least over the weekend — due to mechanical problems with the chiller system that supports the operating and CT rooms in Bracebridge.

They said that on Canada Day, July 1, an issue with SMMH’s chiller system temporarily affected both the CT scanner and the operating room areas.

The issue affecting the CT scanner has since been resolved, and patients can once again access CT imaging at the south Muskoka site.

But the temporary change in surgical services — necessitating the move and 20-minute drive north — remain in effect while work continues to restore operating room services.

Patients requiring emergency surgery that cannot be safely provided on site during this temporary disruption may be transferred to the Huntsville site or another regional hospital to receive the care they need as quickly as possible.

Patients affected by surgical scheduling changes have been contacted directly.

The operating room services at the south Muskoka site are “anticipated to resume as early as next week, pending completion of system repairs, testing, and confirmation that conditions are safe for surgical care.”

ER remains open in Bracebridge

The emergency department remains open and continues to provide emergency care throughout this temporary disruption.

MAHC says it thanks patients and the community for their patience, understanding, and support as our teams work to restore normal operations.

Yesterday’s MAHC release had said the moves were to “ensure patients continue to receive timely surgical care.”

They said the emergency department in Bracebridge remained open and and continued to provide emergency care.

“Our priority is ensuring patients continue to receive safe, timely, and high-quality care,” said Cheryl Harrison, president and CEO of Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare. “We appreciate the patience and understanding of our patients and community while our teams work to restore full surgical services at the Bracebridge site.”

Clinical and operational teams continue to assess the situation and work toward restoring normal operations.

MAHC said it thanks patients, staff, physicians, volunteers, and its regional healthcare partners for their continued flexibility, collaboration, and support during this temporary service disruption.

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