00:00The Tobago Regional Health Authority confirmed some surgeries have been postponed at the Scarborough General Hospital
00:05due to some air conditioning units at the Scarborough General Hospital not being operational.
00:11As a result, elective procedures remain temporarily suspended.
00:15More from Elizabeth Williams.
00:17There had been concern and inconvenience experienced by patients, families and staff
00:24following the temporary disruption to surgical services at the Scarborough General Hospital.
00:30The Tobago Regional Health Authority, TRHA, in a release stated on Thursday,
00:34the disruption is related to issues affecting the hospital's chilled water system,
00:40which provides cooling to the operating theaters.
00:43It explained that appropriate environmental conditions in these areas are essential to safe surgical care
00:51and to the working conditions of clinical teams.
00:55The TRHA said, quote, repairs to the cooling system are progressing with partial restoration already achieved.
01:03The system is being monitored while further works and the testing continue to ensure the operating theaters meet the required
01:12conditions.
01:12The phased approach is intended to maintain available cooling while minimizing further disruption to hospital operations, end quote.
01:21Elective procedures remain temporarily suspended while emergency surgical procedures continue to be prioritized based on clinical need
01:30and the availability of appropriate theater conditions.
01:34The authority stated it understands that postponed procedures can be deeply unsettling for patients and families,
01:43particularly for those who have made personal, financial, and other arrangements around their care.
01:49And decisions affecting surgical services are being guided by the need to maintain appropriate conditions for patient safety.
01:59Elizabeth Williams, TV6 News.
