East Wing lift at CWM Hospital out of service again due to mechanical fault, repairs underway

The East Wing lift at the CWM Hospital, which was repaired on the 12th of this month, is once again out of operation due to a mechanical fault.

fijivillage News has received confirmation that the lift has not been operational for about two days.

We have received information from concerned people that they have seen patients being carried in bedsheets to the next floor.

As we had earlier highlighted, the two most critical lifts at CWM Hospital are now not operational.

According to the doctors who have spoken to fijivillage News, the main lift in the East Wing has not worked for a long time.

This is the lift at the Specialist Outpatients Department (SOPD) that is supposed to take patients to the operating theatres, the Intensive Care Unit and the Acute Wards.

The second one that has stopped working again this week is near the Radiography Department, and this was the only lift that could take patients to the operating theatres, the Intensive Care Unit and the Acute Wards.

Medical experts on the ground say this lift was previously used to transport waste from the operating theatres, while the main lift was used to transport patients.

With the main lift breaking down, the second lift was used to transport patients and the waste from the operating theatres.

They say this is already a serious concern as the patients are being taken to a sterile place but transported in the same lift used to take waste.

With the lifts not working, some patients cannot go into the Intensive Care Unit, so they are admitted in the operating theatres or transferred in bedsheets.

This will further cause huge delays to major surgeries as patients recover in the theatres.

Only 4 out of 8 operating theatres are running at the CWM Hospital at the moment. The other theatres are still not ready for use.

The Health Minister, Doctor Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu earlier said these are very old lifts and will need to be changed.

He adds the new lifts for the East Wing have arrived and are in the country. 

Doctor Lalabalavu says the installation will begin soon and there will be proper planning to ensure that service delivery has limited disruptions.

After the latest incident, the Ministry of Health says technical assessments are underway and repair arrangements have been initiated with engineering partners to restore the lift as soon as possible.

Despite the disruption, the Ministry has assured patients and their families that contingency measures have been put in place to maintain the safety and care of those admitted, including patients in the Intensive Care Unit and upper-floor wards.

They say these measures include temporary service adjustments, safe patient transfer protocols, and enhanced clinical and operational oversight.

Critical care services have also been reorganised where necessary, with senior medical and nursing teams closely monitoring patient safety at all times.

The hospital is also working with partner health facilities to manage patient flow and ensure continuity of care during the disruption.

Members of the public are advised to expect temporary service interruptions, with the Ministry appealing for patience and understanding while repair works continue.

Staff remain available to assist patients and families as needed.