Repeated lift failures at the country’s main referral hospital have been linked not to overuse, but to improper handling.
Health Minister Antonio Lalabalavu said the ongoing issues at Colonial War Memorial Hospital revealed that the aging lifts in the East Wing were highly sensitive and prone to disruption when not used carefully.
“It’s not the overuse, it’s how to use the lift,” he stressed.
According to the Minister, the way patients and equipment were moved into the lifts played a crucial role in their reliability. Even minor bumps against the lift’s interior walls can trigger faults and render the system inoperable.
“If a patient is being brought inside and then they get bumped, or just the misuse of the lift, that affects it because of the sensitivity of the lift.”
The repeated lift failures, first identified as a concern by the Ministry in 2023, was brought up after questions were raised about social media footage showing patients being carried up staircases last week due to break down of the East Wing lift.
Health officials have been informed that routine actions such as rolling hospital beds into lift walls can interfere with lift mechanisms, contributing to sudden breakdowns.
“Even rolling patients inside and bumping the sides of the walls… can cause disruption in how the lift functions.”
At one stage, the issue escalated to the point where staff were assigned specifically to oversee lift use and guide both hospital personnel and visitors.
“It went to that extent… to show even our own staff… or the general public.”
The Minister is now urging greater awareness and care from everyone using the facility.
“It goes back to use. You should be aware of how to look after the lift.”
While most lift faults are typically resolved within hours, delays can occur especially when breakdowns happen overnight, requiring technicians to respond the following day.
Despite the ongoing challenges, Dr Lalabalavu confirmed that plans are already in motion to replace the aging lift systems.
