Katie May
Northern News Services
Published Friday, June 6, 2008

YELLOWKNIFE - Ongoing renovations at Stanton Territorial Hospital uncovered mould in the emergency room area nearly two weeks ago when construction workers pulled back some baseboards in an old washroom.

Hospital CEO Sylvia Haener said officials sent mould samples for testing to find out if the mould is toxic, even though the hospital isn't required to do so.

"We're being cautious and wanting to understand what we're dealing with for future renovations," Haener said Wednesday.

The results will be back in a few weeks and the renovations, which began in late April, will continue until August. The hospital is converting the private washroom into a patient triage room where nurses can assess patients' needs and prioritize them for emergency care.

The renovations are already isolated with plastic seals, so the area is "perfectly safe and contained", Haener said.

Moulds are types of fungi that can grow in humid or damp areas. Some kinds of mould cause allergic reactions, eye, nose and throat irritations and respiratory problems, particularly in children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems. Haener said the hospital does not plan to check other areas of the building for mould.