...Surgeries being transferred to other hospitals

THE FIFTH floor at the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) is to be isolated and cleaned to reestablish operating-theatre and intensive-care services to the western region of the island in the shortest possible time. Alternative access to these areas is being created to minimise exposure to affected areas. The Falmouth Hospital operating theatre suite to be commissioned immediately to facilitate elective surgeries. New operating theatres at Falmouth Hospital is to be opened in approximately two weeks to facilitate elective and urgent surgeries. University Hospital of the West Indies is to facilitate surgeries for critically ill neurosurgery patients. Orthopaedic surgeries are to be facilitated at Savanna-la-Mar Hospital. The release also noted that safe space has been found on other buildings on the hospital’s compound to house approximately 200 beds. The space is now being renovated to ensure readiness in short order.

SPECIAL STAFF CLINIC

Regarding the situation with the nurses who are calling in sick, De La Haye said that there was an appreciation that the situation at the CRH was not wholesome and that persons were being negatively affected.

“We appreciate that we have an environment where persons are reporting symptoms. We appreciate the complaints, which is why over a week ago, we established a special staff clinic where persons affected, including nurses, could attend outside of the regular casualty setting,” said De La Haye. “... let us hope that with the information we are imparting now to the nurses, that that will lead to normalcy sooner rather than later. We don’t want anyone to continue, whether nurse, physical, health-care worker, or patient, to have to complain.”