Operating Rooms 3 and 4 at the CWM Hospital are operational again, having been temporarily closed following a wastewater spill. Earlier reports suggested the closure was due to a raw sewage leak, but the Ministry of Health clarified that the root cause was a blockage in the emergency department, which resulted in wastewater intrusion from the shared sluice room, affecting the East Wing operating rooms. The blockage was reportedly caused by materials that should not have been present.
Thanks to the swift response of the hospital’s maintenance team that detected the issue early, the plumber on-site was able to rectify the problem and restore the normal functioning of the drainage system. Following this, the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team moved in to staunchly clean and disinfect the affected areas, ensuring extensive containment of the affected zones.
The hospital’s operational teams were instrumental in maintaining stringent hygiene standards throughout this incident. In their reply, the Ministry applauded the efforts made by the teams to ensure that patient care continued, virtually uninterrupted, thanks to the proactive and dedicated hospital staff.
To ensure thorough decontamination, a private cleaning company was enlisted to conduct a deep clean of the operating rooms. This was a meticulous process, but essential to secure the health and safety of all future patients. The team completed the task, adhering to rigorous IPC protocols and guaranteeing that Operating Rooms 3 and 4 are now safe for use once more.
Efficient resource management also contributed to the seamless continuity of patient care. The transport of patients was coordinated among Operating Rooms 1 and 2 for general emergencies, a step-down room for septic cases, and an obstetric operating room was set up in the Labour Ward for emergency and elective cesarean sections. The facility is also considering the use of operating rooms at partner private hospitals for future emergency cases like these.
It’s worth noting that these issues arose due to the hospital’s outdated infrastructure. The Ministry assures that these problems will be fully resolved upon the completion of the much-anticipated major refurbishment. This incident acts as a reminder of the importance of the collaboration between health care teams and facilities management in ensuring that patient care remains uninterrupted, even in the face of unexpected emergencies.