By Clinton McGregor
Regional Director of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Errol Greene, says the authority is trying to find a solution to the crisis at the Victoria Jubilee Hospital due to malfunctioning air conditioning units at the facility.
Radio Jamaica News first reported Thursday morning that a number of scheduled surgeries at VJH in Kingston have been pushed back due to a non-functioning operating theatre.
One of the two main operating theatres at the hospital has reportedly been out of service for close to two months due to issues with the air conditioning unit and malfunctioning lights.
Staff at the hospital are reportedly frustrated about the delay in addressing the operating theatre.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News on Thursday, Mr. Greene confirmed that the air conditioning units at the hospital have been down for the last few weeks.
"We are in touch with the supplier, Geddes Refrigeration, and they have indicated to us that they will not be able to get the parts to repair the units before September."
He said SERHA has been trying to secure a portable unit but has not been successful.
"What we have done is that we have ordered new units for the spaces that are not being cooled now and based on the discussions we have had with the supplier of these new units, they should be in place before the end of this week. I spoke to them up to this morning and they are doing everything to expedite the installation of these units," he sought to assure.
Mr. Greene disclosed that other sections of the VJH have also been affected, including the labour ward and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
"The NICU, that went down I think last week and the labour ward. We have installed units in the labour ward, so that is working with now. But the NICU and the operating theatres, we are moving to put new units in those spaces and they should be installed before the end of this week."
He said arrangements are being made for previously scheduled surgeries at VJH to be carried out at Kingston Public Hospital until the issues are addressed.
