Montreal

MUHC works to address sewage backup at Glen Site

The McGill University Health Centre says it is putting in place an action plan to deal with sewage backups that have been plaguing the new Glen Site.

'I recognize how challenging this problem has been,' says hospital head Normand Rinfret

The MUHC superhospital has been plagued by sewage problems since opening earlier this year. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press)

The McGill University Health Centre says it is putting in place an action plan to deal with sewage backups that have been plaguing the new Glen Site.

Normand Rinfret, president and executive director of the MUHC, said he has ordered daily reports until the problem is fixed.

"The MUHC will receive an interim report today and each day thereafter, until the process is complete and the problem fixed to our satisfaction," Rinfret said in a statement released Tuesday.

"I recognize how challenging this problem has been for staff and healthcare professionals, not to mention for our patients and their families using the Glen site. On behalf of our institution, I'd like to ask for everyone's patience for a little while longer."

Imma Franco, the head of technical services, planning and real estate at the MUHC, said there's no "clear-cut answer" to the problem.

But Franco said workers at the Glenn site are trying to solve it as quickly as possible.

The total cost of the new facility, designed and built by engineering giant SNC-Lavalin, was $1.3 billion. SNC-Lavalin is also under contract to maintain the hospital.