Region Updates report on the inappropriate use of needles at the Walksers Line Clinic

By Gazette Staff

September 17th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

The Region issued a report yesterday on problems at the Halton Family Health Centre Walk-in Clinic located at 2951 Walkers Line where needles were improperly used on occasions where a local freezing was being applied.

The original report said:

Following an investigation, Halton Region Public Health identified improper infection prevention and control practices involving the use of an unsterile needle with a multidose vial of local anesthetic medication (freezing) between January 1, 2019, and July 17, 2025. This practice may pose a risk of cross-contamination and transmission of infections. The investigation determined this was likely not an isolated incident, meaning it may have occurred previously during the identified time period between 2019 and 2025. This IPAC Lapse only includes the walk-in clinic during the specified time period and does not include procedures or care received at the family practice physician offices associated with the Halton Family Health Centre clinic.

Halton Family Health Centre Walk-in Clinic has taken immediate corrective measures to ensure all necessary infection control measures are being met. Public health continues to monitor the situation to ensure compliance and patient safety. There are no risks to the patients at this time, and the clinic is open.

The Region has since updated the report to say:

This public notice has been updated to provide clarity and ensure an accurate understanding of the infection prevention and control lapse. It is important to note that the same needle was not used continuously throughout the period, rather appropriate infection prevention and control measures were not followed when using multi does vials over the time period identified.

While the risk remains low, Halton Region Public Health continues to encourage anyone who visited the walk-in clinic during the specific timeframe and received a needle for the purposes of “freezing”, to seek precautionary testing and speak with their healthcare provider.