BY BEN BILUA
Gizo
THE recently renovated operating theatre at Helena Goldie Hospital has failed to meet critical infection control standards, leaving one of Western Province’s major referral hospitals without a functioning surgical theatre.
Medical Superintendent of Helena Goldie Hospital, Dr Raymond Kuray Dickson, revealed in an exclusive interview with Island Sun that a post-renovation assessment found that the facility does not comply with essential Infection Control Protocols required for safe surgical operations.
He said one of the major concerns is that the theatre has open doors and windows, making it impossible to maintain a sterile environment required for surgery.
“Operating theatres must be properly sealed. No air from outside should come in. A theatre must be sterile where ventilation must be one way—that is going out.
“This is important to protect patients during operations from dangerous elements that could cause infections after surgery,” Dickson said.
He said the theatre’s internal layout also fails to meet international operating theatre standards.
Dickson explained that the designated “dirty area”, where contaminated instruments and materials are handled, is located beside the operating table.
“There should be a sterile buffer between the operating table and the dirty area. This again is an issue of Infection Control Protocol.
“The dirty room must be a few metres away from the operating table,” he said.
Dickson said the shortcomings have forced Helena Goldie Hospital to refer surgical patients to Gizo Hospital for operations, creating additional costs and exposing patients to unnecessary risks during sea transport.
“We have had incidents where one of our boats transporting patients was involved in an accident at sea. Two boats came head-to-head with each other.
“Some of the risks include bad weather,” he said.
Dickson said the hospital has repeatedly raised the matter with the relevant authorities over the past year, but no corrective action has been taken.
He said restoring the operating theatre to the required standard will significantly reduce the burden of transferring patients between Munda and Gizo and improve access to timely surgical care.
“We need this theatre to be up and running as soon as possible. We have raised the issue many times, but nothing has been done.
“It seems there is always talk about supporting hospitals, but at the end of the day hospitals are the last place we as human beings will spend our lives,” Dickson said.
He said a fully operational theatre will not only improve healthcare services for people in Western Province but also provide opportunities for practical, skills-based medical training for healthcare professionals.
Dickson calls on responsible authorities to urgently address the deficiencies so the hospital can safely resume surgical services and reduce the risks faced by patients requiring life-saving operations.
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