South Muskoka Memorial Hospital has temporarily closed its operating room until next week.
According to hospital officials, the temporary closure is due to an issue with the chiller system serving the operating room area of the hospital.
In the meantime, staff said surgical services have been temporarily moved to the Huntsville District Memorial Hospital. Patients with elective surgeries that have been affected have been contacted directly and will be rescheduled.
Officials said the Emergency Department at the Bracebridge hospital remains open and continues to provide emergency care. However, patients requiring emergency surgery will be transferred to the Huntsville site or another regional hospital to receive the care they need as quickly as possible.
Hospital staff anticipate operating room services will resume as early as next week, pending system repairs, testing, and confirmation that conditions are safe for surgical care.
