Alberta Health Services says some elective surgeries in Medicine Hat have been postponed as water quality concerns impact the hospital’s ability to sterilize and reprocess medical devices.

At least 11 elective surgeries scheduled to take place Friday at Medicine Hat Regional Hospital have been postponed, while 95 postponements took place between May 9 and May 11. There could be more postponements to come.

Postponing the surgeries allows staff to maintain a supply of devices for emergency surgeries at the facility, AHS said in a news release Thursday. There has been no impact on inpatient, urgent and emergency care.

The cause of the water quality concern continues to be investigated.

“We know this is inconvenient and potentially stressful for the affected patients and we apologize for that,” AHS said in a statement.

“Decisions are made with patients first in mind. AHS is continuing to advise affected patients of surgery postponements, and we are working toward a normal surgical schedule as quickly as possible.”