ST CATHERINE, Jamaica — The South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA) is advising the public that the Spanish Town Hospital will be restricted to admitting emergency cases only.

In a release on Tuesday, September 27, SERHA said elective surgeries have been scaled down due to the impact of severe weather conditions associated with Tropical Storm Ian over the weekend.

According to Dr Jacqueline Wright-James, Senior Medical Officer at Spanish Town Hospital, “the clinical operations of the Accident and Emergency department and sections of the operating theatres, have been affected by leaking roofs.”

“We have also had to relocate some patients from some affected areas to drier sections,” she added.

“The management of the hospital has been working continuously to identify solutions to weather-related issues affecting staff and patients,” Dr Wright-James added, further explaining that if severe weather conditions continue, the hospital will be working in conjunction with other health facilities in the region to accommodate some surgical patients.

Obstetrics and outpatient services at the hospital have not been impacted by the restrictions.

In the meantime, the hospital’s management sought to clear up rumours stemming from a video footage claiming flooding at the hospital. The facility said the video is more than a year old and shows flooding brought on by Hurricane Elsa in 2021.