Sections of Cape Breton Regional Hospital closed for repairs after burst pipe

Some sections of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital in Sydney, N.S., are closed following a water leak.

Nova Scotia Health says in a Monday morning news release a pipe burst on the third floor of the hospital Sunday night shortly after 8 p.m., causing a flood.

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A pipe burst on the third floor of the Cape Breton Regional Hospital on Aug. 25, 2024, causing a flood. (Courtesy: Nova Scotia Health)

While staff acted quickly in an attempt to minimize the damage, the health authority says there was significant flooding on the third floor.

The following areas were closed for repairs:

• some physician offices, one operating room, a prenatal clinic and staff training/education space (third floor)
• some administrative offices (second floor)
• elevators 5, 6, 9 & 10

A timeline for the repairs is still being determined and officials are not sure of the exact cause.

"Our assessment hasn't been completed at this time. We're working with our facilities maintenance crew, infection prevention and control, to do a thorough assessment to assure that the appropriate measures are taken place to get the cleanup done as fast as possible," says Cathy Lynn Howley, Eastern Zone director of perioperative services at Nova Scotia Health.

Nova Scotia Health says it is working with each impacted service to ensure patients are notified and appointments are rebooked. The operating room has reopened and surgeries scheduled for the rest of the week will go ahead.

With files from CTV Atlantic's Ryan MacDonald.

For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.