KPH Operating Theatres Stay Closed Pending Overseas HEPA Filter Delivery

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Julian Robinson has called for a clear update on air conditioning at Kingston Public Hospital amid public concern that a failed cooling system has disrupted surgical services.

At a committee session, Robinson asked when normal operations might resume. Officials said two of the hospital's four main operating theatres were affected by the breakdown. Repairs to the damaged equipment have been finished, but both theatres still need two HEPA filters that must be manufactured and sourced overseas, as they are not available in Jamaica.

An order has been placed and the filters are expected to be airfreighted into the country. Officials said there is a commitment to have them delivered by the middle of next week. After installation, the theatres must be cleaned and sanitized before they can reopen.

Elective surgeries at KPH have been scaled back while the affected operating areas remain out of service. Emergency surgeries are still being carried out.

The accident and emergency department was also hit by the cooling failure and requires extensive repairs. In the interim, cassette and split air-conditioning units have been installed there, and officials said those measures are keeping the area functional.

When Robinson asked whether the fix would be permanent or temporary, officials described the current work as more than a short-term patch. They said procurement is under way for a new air-conditioning system for the affected areas, noting the existing installation is old and due for replacement.

Robinson pressed for a two-to-three-week estimate once the parts arrive. Beyond the mid-next-week target for the filter shipment, officials did not give a firm timeline for full restoration in the exchange.