A critical healthcare crisis is unfolding at Barbados’ premier medical institution, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH), where a significant failure of air-conditioning systems has forced the shutdown of two-thirds of its surgical operating theaters since January. The Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados (CTUSAB) has sounded the alarm, with General Secretary Dennis De Peiza revealing the issue may have persisted since November, raising grave concerns about patient welfare and potential loss of life due to postponed surgeries.
The hospital administration confirmed that six of its nine theaters are non-operational. In response, QEH management has implemented contingency measures, optimizing the three functional theaters by extending schedules and increasing flexibility to continue essential procedures. The company responsible for maintenance, TMR, is actively working on a long-term solution, including the installation of new equipment, with efforts underway to restore full capacity as early as this week.
QEH assures the public that emergency and urgent surgeries have continued uninterrupted, while elective procedures are being actively managed. All affected patients have been contacted with updates, and a dedicated Patient Advice and Liaison Service is available for those awaiting communication.
Simultaneously, De Peiza highlighted a parallel crisis in the hospital’s Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department, citing ongoing patient flow issues and recent surges. He proposed a strategic reorganization involving the creation of a dedicated trauma center to handle critical cases like gunshot wounds, heart attacks, and strokes separately from less urgent ailments. This model, he argued, would require proper planning, budgetary allocation for immediate staff recruitment, and is exemplified by the existing efficient asthma bay protocol.
In a related development, Health Minister Senator Lisa Cummins, during Senate debates on the Appropriations Bill, acknowledged systemic challenges, noting that over 20% of A&E patients could be treated elsewhere. She announced a significant allocation of over $30 million dedicated to enhancing patient care across public healthcare facilities, addressing infrastructure gaps and extended operating hours at polyclinics to alleviate pressure on the QEH.