Our hospital not affected by radioisotope shortage

Sault Area Hospital has so far been unaffected by a global shortage of medical isotopes caused by problems at the Chalk River nuclear plant in Eastern Ontario.

The plant, which supplies half the world's radioisotopes, has not operated since November 18.

Under emergency federal legislation that received royal assent last night, the reactor will be fired up for 120 days, overuling the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which is concerned that needed safety upgrades have not been completed.

Many hospitals have been forced to cancel non-emergency tests and procedures involving isotopes, but SAH President and CEO Ron Gagnon says he received a supply of isotopes on Monday that typically lasts about a week and a half.

The hospital performs about 80 diagnostic scans a week using radioisotopes.

"My understanding is that Chalk River will be back up and running and will be able to provide its supplier, who is our supplier, with the isotopes," said Gagnon.

"Worst-case scenario is you wouldn't get any isotopes and you wouldn't be able to do those scans. And we'd be in the same boat as probably half of North America."