The Sudbury Outpatient Centre on Regent Street will remain closed for the rest of the week due to a flood in the building earlier this morning.
In a statement to local media this morning, the hospital said all patient appointments planned for today at the outpatient centre would be rescheduled. However, in an update at noon today, Health Sciences North said the flooding will force the closure of the outpatient centre for the rest of the week.
"As of March 12, all programs and patient appointments at the Sudbury Outpatient Centre (SOC) on Regent Street are being rescheduled due to a flood that occurred early this morning. SOC is closed for the rest of this week," a statement from HSN reads. "Several hundred appointments have been impacted and those patients are being contacted directly to be rebooked as soon as possible."
Patients are asked not to call about their appointment to "make the process as seamless as possible."
The outpatient centre provides a variety of programs and services, including the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP), genetic counselling services, nutrition counselling, the HAVEN Program, hemophilia and the Regional Bariatric Assessment and Treatment Centre.
"The Sudbury Breast Diagnostic Assessment Unit has opened a temporary clinic for patients who were scheduled to see Dr. Michele Brule at the Ramsey Lake Health Centre for today only, and those patients are being contacted directly," HSN said.
Outpatient centre staff are asked to work remotely where possible.
HSN said the flooding issue stems from a leak in a hot water source on the fourth floor of the centre, which was discovered by staff just after 5 a.m. today.
"Water then leaked down different sections of the building, eventually making its way to the basement, impacting levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 along with elevators," the hospital said.
HSN staff is now reviewing the damage and assessing next steps to rebook appointments and reopen the outpatient centre.