Falmouth hospital's 'World Cup theatres' near completion
Published:Monday | February 20, 2017 | 12:00 AMLeon Jackson
Western Bureau:
The operating theatres at the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny, which were constructed to coincide with the staging of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup hosted within the Caribbean, are now set to become operational in another six weeks.
The theatres, which were projected to transform the 63-year-old hospital into a world-class facility when ground was broken some 10 years ago, were put into a state of readiness following the recent injection of $22 million for upgrading work.
"Yes, the theatres were built in 2007, but in the main they were just empty shelves," said Dr Ken-Garfield Douglas, the Regional Director of the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA). "The wrong air conditioning was installed, but we have now gotten the correct type and have had the installation done."
ADDITIONAL WORK NEEDED
Dr Douglas said that because the building was not being used for its intended purpose over the years since it was constructed, it means that before it is commissioned into service, additional work has to be done.
"The floor has to be changed; oxygen and other requisite equipment have to be brought in to ensure that the highest standards are met," he said. "Some of the equipment of which I speak are coming in from Canada. They are expected within three weeks, and we have to give time for the requisite customs clearance. Once that is done, we will have enough time to apply real haste to have the theatres up and running."
The status of the theatres came to the fore recently following three major accidents in Trelawny. Some of the victims, who were initially hospitalised at the Falmouth Hospital, had to be transferred to other facilities with superior services.
With the new theatres, which were being used as offices, finally slated to become functional, Douglas said the old theatres would be decommissioned. According to him, with the new theatres, the heavy reliance on the Cornwall Regional Hospital to handle some medical issues should come to an end.