MUHC pneumatic tube system back up and running but staff still has concerns

The pneumatic tube system at the McGill University Health Centre's new Glen site is working again after problems arose earlier this summer, but union representatives say they're not holding their breath.

The system of tubes can carry capsules at speeds of up to 20km/h to deliver blood samples, medication and emergency supplies from places such as the hospital pharmacy directly to nurses' stations in patient room pods.

MUHC CEO Normand Rinfret acknowledged the system broke down in June and July because traffic in the tubes was "extremely high."

He told CBC's Daybreak on Wednesday that the system had been tuned to adjust to the higher volume.

Rinfret doesn't anticipate any more issues.

"The pneumatic tube is working now. It's very reliable. I have no doubts," he said.

Union afraid tubes aren't fixed for good

Mary Ann Davis, secretary general of MUHC employees union, is not so confident.

"They've been breaking on and off since the beginning. So today they might be up and running, but tomorrow it might break down again," she said.

Davis said over the summer the tube system broke down for hours at a time.

The problem is fixed maybe today, but I'm sure it's going to break down again- Mary Ann Davis, secretary general of the MUHC employees union

It's not a small hospital — and when the tubes aren't working that means medication, supplies and samples have to be delivered on foot.

"There was a patient attendant in the ICU unit last week who basically had to run up and down the stairs to the lab and to the pharmacy to get medication and bring the tests," Davis said. 

After a summer plagued with issues at the new hospital, including sewage backup and staffing shortages, Davis has her doubts.

"The problem is fixed maybe today, but I'm sure it's going to break down again."