QEH returning to normal after Elsa

Patients in the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) can now be admitted to wards.

“Presently the QEH is in the process of returning to normal operations,” said a press release from the state-owned medical facility.

“This includes the admission of patients from the AED which was delayed during the inclement weather due to the temporary removal of the beds located closest to the windows from service.”

Executive chairman Juliette Bynoe-Sutherland explained that during an assessment of the damage and a meeting with directors, they determined that the hospital could still operate, including the AED and the Ambulance Service (EAS).

However, a massive cleanup and repair project immediately followed, which included the cleaning of the facilities, replacing damaged and missing roof tiles, the removal of debris and re-securing the hospital’s perimeter.

On Saturday, the assessment was also conducted on the QEH’s Enmore Compound, the EAS and the Harrison Point Isolation Centre.

And following the storm, clinical and support staff worked and contributed significantly to the maintenance of service delivery.

In some cases, the staff who worked double and triple shifts, volunteered to stay and some who were not rostered, aided in the response and the ensuing clean-up operation.

Bynoe-Sutherland thanked the staff for their dedication during the passage of Hurricane Elsa which battered the hospital.

“The QEH was able to sustain services throughout Hurricane Elsa and immediately afterwards due to an incredible team effort from medical, nursing, and support staff who worked tirelessly to ensure there were no injuries to staff, and our patients remained safe and well cared for,” she said.(PR/TG)