Jordan Bonaparte was taken aback when he visited the emergency department at the QEII Health Sciences Centre in Halifax on Saturday with a family member, as he noticed mice darting around the corridors.
However, a paramedic quickly provided clarity on the situation.
“One of them remarked that there are as many mice as patients, if not more,” Bonaparte stated. “My experience in the Infirmary’s emergency room definitely underscored that.”
After observing the mice for nearly six hours, Bonaparte reported that his family member was taken to a room. Almost immediately, a mouse appeared and began climbing onto the bed with the patient.
“I’m fairly certain that if I hadn’t gotten up and stomped my feet, that creature would have made its way onto my bed to reach the food being served to her,” he recalled.
Nova Scotia Health has recognized that the rodent problem at the QEII complex exceeds the typical expectations of a port city, where rodents are often seen.
Documents acquired by CBC News indicate that the pest control expenditures for the health authority at the QEII and Dartmouth General Hospital have surged over the past five years.
The QEII, which encompasses the Halifax Infirmary, Victoria General, and Rehabilitation sites, experienced its budget rise from $35,942 to $323,075—an astonishing 798 percent increase.
Dartmouth General witnessed the largest percentage surge in the province during the same period, escalating from $9,545 to $120,012 last year, marking a 1,157 percent rise.
“The frequency of these sightings has risen dramatically over the past few years,” noted Chris Smith, the senior director for facilities operations at Nova Scotia Health.
“While it’s easy to attribute this to our status as a port city, it doesn’t alter our stance that they have no place in health-care environments. We must do everything possible to keep them out and maintain clean, sanitary, and safe surroundings.”
According to Nova Scotia Health, the construction of the acute care tower at the QEII Health Sciences Centre has contributed to the rodent problem. (Build Nova Scotia)
Both facilities are surrounded by significant construction activities. Smith acknowledged that when the QEII expansion project commenced, he anticipated a rise in pest activity.
“We did expect an uptick, but I don’t think we anticipated the extent of the increase we’re experiencing.”
The health authority reports that in the past five years, it has captured 1,435 mice or other rodents within the QEII buildings, which total 2.9 million square feet. Additionally, 321 rodents have been caught at the Dartmouth hospital.
“We are working with aging buildings, and the environment is complex. Each day, hundreds, if not thousands, of individuals enter and exit the buildings for medical appointments, supplies, and equipment,” Smith explained.
Despite being adjacent to the QEII, the IWK Health Centre reports that mice are not its primary concern. (Paul Palmeter/CBC)
Conversely, the IWK Health Centre stated that mice are not its most pressing problem, even though it is located next to the QEII.
Last year, the women and children’s hospital had to allocate $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 areas, as well as installing netting and spiking in certain locations to deter birds in the future,” the statement mentioned.
The IWK anticipates ongoing monitoring of the situation, implying that some expenses will continue.
While the cleanup at the IWK is largely complete, Nova Scotia Health remains entrenched in its battle against the infestation.
“This is a problem that has developed over many years and will likely take several more years to fully control,” Smith remarked.
Smith indicated that his department employs a three-pronged strategy. They have engaged professional exterminators who visit daily, encourage staff to report sightings to identify areas needing traps, and have initiated external inspections to find small openings in the buildings.
“Some of these efforts resulted in 100 or 200 work orders for the numerous small cracks and crevices that required sealing,” he clarified.
“If there are any openings left, we are actively addressing them. It’s not something that can be fixed overnight.”
Smith appeals to staff and patients to remain vigilant and report any rodent sightings.
Days after his hospital visit, Bonaparte is still disturbed by what he witnessed and urges the public to demand higher standards from their health facilities.
He shared a video of his experience on his podcast platform, The Canadian Gothic, receiving numerous comments from others who claimed such conditions were normal.
“If your expectations for health care are so low that you accept mice roaming around the emergency room where individuals are fighting for their lives, I believe that is an unreasonably low standard,” he stated.
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