Northern Health has been notifying approximately 10,000 patients about an error discovered in the pre-cleaning process for flexible endoscopes at the University Hospital of Northern B.C. (UHNBC) in Prince George between 2012 and December 2014.
Burns Lake resident Cecile Phillips is one of the people affected by this issue. On Jan. 20, 2015, Phillips received a letter from Northern Health saying that an "error had occurred during one of the cleaning steps following the use of certain endoscopes used for examining the colon, bile ducts, esophagus, stomach and small intestine."
Endoscopes used for these types of exams at UHNBC were "not being cleaned according to the manufacturer’s instructions."
Northern Health released a statement saying, "While all other cleaning steps were completed properly, there is a small risk that not all viruses were removed during the cleaning process."
The endoscopes that were not properly cleaned could help transmit hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV. In this case, however, the B.C. Centre of Disease Control does not recommend any follow up testing for patients.
"It’s important to emphasize that the B.C. Centre for Disease Control has advised that the risk of any transmission is extremely minimal and is not recommending any follow up treatment or actions for patients," read a statement from Northern Health. "We believe the there is little, if any, personal risk to you related to this issue but for the sake of transparency, we feel it is important that you were informed."
"Since learning of this, Northern Health has immediately corrected the error and has provided additional education on the cleaning process for flexible endoscopes to health care professionals," read the statement.
While the statement might sound reassuring, some patients are not be buying it.
"If there is no problem, why are they sending these letters," questioned Phillips. "To me, it was like a red flag going up."
Phillips had two colonoscopies at UHNBC during the affected time period, one in October 2012 and the other in May 2013. After receiving the letter, she went to see a doctor in Burns Lake, and the doctor advised her to get tested for hepatitis B and C, as well as HIV.
"When you first read the letter, it's a little bit of a shock," she said. "When you go into a procedure you assume that everything is going to be done properly, and then you find out that whoever had been responsible for cleaning the equipment haven't been doing it properly for over two years."
"I am very disappointed," she continued. "I don't think Northern Health did their job properly. I think they should have said 'you should go to the lab for these tests [hepatitis B and C and HIV].'"
In a statement, Northern Health apologized for the incident.
"Northern Health apologizes to the patients for any anxiety resulting from this incident. Patients can be confident that their tests are being completed in an appropriate manner with cleaned and sterilized equipment."
People with immediate concerns can contact 1-844-565-5516.