Operating theatres built at Falmouth Hospital in 2007 to be opened
ST JAMES, Jamaica — Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has disclosed that two operating theatres at the Falmouth Hospital in Trelawny, which were constructed for the ICC World Cup Cricket in 2007, are to be retrofitted and opened for the first time since being constructed approximately ten years ago.
“We built two new operating theatres for World Cup Cricket. Long before my time. They have never been used and lack certain basic equipment. Since we took over as an administration, the chairman of the Western Regional Health Authority Mr Tony Hart and his team have been working to repair, restore or commission, since they [have] never been used, those two facilities,” Tufton stated.
He added that the Contractor General’s website has on it, “Construct building for operating theatre and radiology at Falmouth Hospital for ICC World Cup Cricket 2007.”
OBSERVER ONLINE sought clarity from Regional Director of the Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA), Dr Ken-Garfield Douglas, who pointed out that an Accident and Emergency (A&E) and a Radiology wing along with a building for two operating theatres were constructed.
He said all with the exception of the two operating theatres were commissioned into operation.
Dr Douglas added that equipment and other fixtures such as, anaesthetic machine, operating tables, ventilators and specialised surgical instruments are being awaited from Canada.
Dr Tufton, who was speaking at a town hall meeting at Sam Sharpe Square in St James on Thursday, said that when commissioned, the theatres will be able to accommodate additional surgeries.
“We are at the point just to get some equipment to put in those facilities and therefore I believe in another few weeks or so, maybe, not much longer than that, Falmouth will be able to add additional capacity for surgeries. Because, we have those facilities that have not been used for some time,” informed the minister.
It was also disclosed during the town hall meeting that the incorrect type of air-conditioning system was installed in the Falmouth Hospital theatre building. It is understood that this has since been changed.
The 63-year-old hospital currently has one theatre in operation.
