When Jordan Bonaparte visited the emergency department at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax with a relative on Saturday, he was taken aback to witness mice darting through the corridors.
However, a paramedic quickly clarified the situation for him.
“One of them remarked that there are as many mice as there are patients, if not more,” Bonaparte recounted. “My experience in the Infirmary’s emergency room certainly confirmed that.”
After observing the mice for almost six hours, he mentioned that his family member was transferred to a room. Almost immediately, he reported, a mouse emerged and began to climb onto the patient’s bed.
“I’m quite certain that if I hadn’t stood up and stomped my feet, that mouse would have climbed right onto my bed to reach the food they were serving her,” he stated.
Nova Scotia Health has acknowledged that the rodent situation at the QEII facility exceeds what is typically encountered in a port city, where rodents are somewhat common.
Documents acquired by CBC News indicate that the health authority’s pest control expenses at both the QEII and Dartmouth General Hospital have dramatically increased over the past five years.
The QEII, which encompasses the Halifax Infirmary, Victoria General, and Rehabilitation sites, saw its pest control budget soar from $35,942 to $323,075, marking an astonishing increase of 798 percent.
Dartmouth General experienced the highest percentage rise in the province during the same period, escalating from $9,545 to $120,012 last year, which amounts to a 1,157 percent increase.
“The frequency of those sightings has surged significantly over the past few years,” stated Chris Smith, senior director for facilities operations at Nova Scotia Health.
“It’s easy to attribute it to our status as a port city, but that doesn’t alter our view that they have no place in healthcare environments, and we must do everything possible to keep them out and ensure these settings remain clean, hygienic, and safe.”
Nova Scotia Health states that construction on the QEII’s acute care tower has exacerbated the rodent issue. (Build Nova Scotia)
Both facilities are encircled by extensive construction projects. Smith noted that the initiation of the QEII expansion project was anticipated to provoke an increase in pests.
“We expected a rise, but I don’t think we anticipated the extent of the increase we’re currently witnessing.”
According to the health authority, over the last five years, they have captured 1,435 mice or other rodents within the QEII buildings, which span 2.9 million square feet. Additionally, 321 rodents have been caught at the Dartmouth hospital.
“Our buildings are aging, and it’s a complex environment. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals entering and exiting the buildings daily for medical appointments, supplies, and equipment,” Smith explained.
The IWK Health Centre had to conduct significant work to address a pigeon infestation. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)
In contrast, the IWK Health Centre stated that mice are not their primary concern, despite being adjacent to the QEII.
Last year, the women and children’s hospital incurred expenses of $180,000 due to “unusual bird activity,” primarily related to pigeons.
The IWK opted not to provide an interview, instead issuing a statement.
“This involved extensive cleanup of bird droppings and nesting sites, as well as installing netting and spiking in certain areas to deter birds in the future,” the statement indicated.
The IWK mentioned that they plan to continue monitoring the situation, implying that some costs will persist.
While the IWK’s cleanup is largely complete, Nova Scotia Health is still actively dealing with its rodent issue.
“This is a problem that has been developing for years. It will likely take several years to fully regain control,” Smith remarked.
He detailed that his department is employing a three-pronged strategy. They have engaged professional exterminators who visit daily, are encouraging staff to report any sightings to target trapping efforts, and have initiated external inspections of the buildings to identify small entry points.
“Some of these initiatives have resulted in 100 to 200 work orders to seal various cracks and crevices,” he elaborated.
“For any that remain open, we are actively addressing them. This is not a quick fix.”
Smith has urged staff and patients to remain vigilant and report all sightings.
Days after Bonaparte’s hospital visit, he remains unsettled by the incident and urges the public to demand higher standards from their healthcare facilities.
He shared a video documenting his experience on his podcast, The Canadian Gothic. The feedback included numerous comments from individuals stating that such conditions are typical.
“If your expectations for healthcare are so low that you accept mice wandering around the emergency room where individuals are fighting for their lives, I believe that’s an unreasonably low standard,” he expressed.
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