Some good news as three lifts at the CWM Hospital will be commissioned soon after the OHS inspections.
When asked by fijivillage News, Assistant Minister for Health, Penioni Ravunawa has confirmed that the timeframe for the lifts to be ready for use by the public will be revealed after the inspections and commissioning.
The three lifts are located at Lancaster Ward and the Children's Ward.
When we asked about the second lift on the East Wing that has been down for some time, and which is needed as it is the second lift to be used for the Operating Theatres and the Intensive Care Unit, Ravunawa says the technicians have started decommissioning the lift last Friday.
He says the whole process of removing and installation of the lifts takes about 7 weeks.
The OHS team then has to give the green light.
Meanwhile Ravunawa acknowledges the inconvenience experienced during the disruption and extends his sincere apologies to patients, their families, and frontline health workers who continued to deliver essential services under challenging circumstances.
He adds it has also been noted that the damage to the lift systems was caused by acts of vandalism by some visitors.
Ravunawa says such behaviour places a significant and unnecessary financial burden on the health system, as the repair of sophisticated hospital infrastructure and equipment is extremely costly.
He says more importantly, it contributes to added pain, discomfort, and delays for patients seeking timely care, while increasing pressure on already stretched healthcare staff.
The Ministry strongly urges members of the public to refrain from damaging hospital property and to treat health facilities with respect.
Ravunawa says moving forward, the Ministry will continue to strengthen security arrangements, including enhanced monitoring and support at key points of entry across hospital premises.
He says these efforts form part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, ensuring patient safety, and maintaining uninterrupted delivery of quality health services nationwide.
