Hospital administrators in the Halifax region are preparing to cancel some elective surgeries next week as a strike looms at 33 hospitals outside the capital.

Although employees of Capital Health aren't among the health-care workers threatening to walk off the job on Jan. 18, the district would feel the brunt of such a widespread strike, said a Capital Health official.

"There will definitely be an impact within the system as a result of the strike," Ken Baird, health authority vice-president, said Thursday.

"At this point it's hard to determine to an exact point what that impact will be. We're making sure that the system is flexible and responsive so that as the inflow of patients comes in Halifax, that we have the capacity to handle that."

The eight district health authorities outside Halifax have been cancelling surgeries in anticipation of a walkout by more than 3,000 laboratory, X-ray, clerical and housekeeping staff.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which represents the health workers, is asking for a salary hike of 2.9 per cent to maintain wage parity with employees of Capital Health.

The employees were offered one per cent.

Baird said unless there's a contract agreement by early next week, Capital Health will begin to cancel elective surgeries in order to free up beds that would be needed for urgent cases around the province .

"No question waiting lists will grow. It's the elective, routine non-urgent patient that will start to see an impact as we increase the wait list as a result of this activity," he said.

But Baird said it's possible surgeons from hospitals on strike may get operating room time in Halifax.

"One of the ideas we were exploring this morning is whether or not additional physicians can come in and assist in the Capital district from other districts," he said.

Health Minister Maureen MacDonald said that in the event of a strike by CUPE workers at hospitals across the province, the government's priority will be maintaining emergency and cancer services.

"Without any question the system will be challenged, but doctors and nurses will still be on the job and keeping the emergency services operating at their regular capacity," she said.

MacDonald said her department is advising the health departments in P.E.I. and New Brunswick that a "patient exchange" may be the only way that the region's largest hospital - the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax - can admit heart or cancer patients from outside the province.

"For example, if a patient has to be admitted into the QEII, then we would look at whether or not we can place a patient in their home province," she said.

During the strike, the emergency rooms at the South Cumberland Care Centre in Parrsboro and All Saint Hospital in Springhill will close.

Two health districts are planning to close their hospitals altogether – the Lillian Fraser Hospital in Tatamagouche and the North Cumberland Memorial Hospital in Pugwash.

Any hospital that does remain open will be providing bare bones service. CUPE members have agreed to provide emergency service only.

Families with someone in hospital waiting for a nursing home spot will be asked to take their loved ones home, if possible, or look after them in hospital.

The union also represents school support staff outside Halifax, who are also set to walk off the job Jan. 18 if their contract demands aren't met.