Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that repairs are being done now to the East Wing elevators at CWM Hospital, and new elevators will follow soon.
Rabuka's comments follow questions sent to him by fijivillage News today on serious concerns being raised about the two elevators at the East Wing of the hospital not working while the Ministry of Health had earlier said that engineers from OTIS Elevator Company of New Zealand were working to restore the 15-year-old elevator in the West Wing of the CWM Hospital, while brand-new replacements for all existing and aged elevators are expected by February 2025.
Yesterday, concerned members of the public and some medical professionals sent in videos of a patient needing critical surgery, being carried down the stairs as the elevator in the East Wing was not working.
The East Wing has the Emergency Department, Radiology, Labs, Operation Theatres, Intensive Care Unit, Coronary Care Unit, Burns Unit and all the acutely ill patients.
The West Wing has the Paediatric Unit, Obstetrics, Non Acute Wards, Private Wards and the kitchen.
The people who have raised concerns with us say it is concerning that the elevators to transport the acutely ill patients to the theatres and back are not working, and are questioning when will this be fixed.
When approached by fijivillage News this morning, Prime Minister Rabuka personally looked into the matter, and came back this afternoon saying that the repairs are underway at the East Wing.
He had checked after an initial report earlier in the day from officials said that they were taken through the Namosi Ward in the elevator that was being discussed in the media.
They said as of today, there is one elevator working and is being used to transport surgical patients.
However fijivillage News then informed the Prime Minister that Namosi Ward is located in the West Wing.
He then rechecked with the officials, and confirmed repairs are underway.
The Prime Minister also provided the photos of work being done on the elevator.
The officials say in total there are 4 elevators in the Old Hospital.
Officials say the four elevators cost approximately $1 million for repairs.
This has been paid for since early 2024, but supply and installation is delayed.
There are two in the New Hospital at Extension Street which would also be undergoing repairs.
When contacted by fijivillage News, the Fiji Medical Association confirmed that the elevator issue at CWM Hospital has caused issues with transfer of sick patients within the hospital which could possibly compromise the safety of the patients and the staff.
They are asking the public not to blame the doctors and health staff while the government is sorting out the issues with the elevators.
The Fiji Medical Association thanks the Prime Minister for being proactive with this issue, and they look forward to his support in addressing the other three main issues which are infrastructure, medical consumable supply chain and human resources.
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