THE Colonial War Memorial Hospital is an outdated and ageing structure that will continue to face issues – as Government works on keeping it functional – as well as implement replacement strategies and preventative maintenance.
Health Minister Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said plans to build a new hospital with the support of the Australian government had already been announced.
He asked that the public bear with his team as “it will take time”.
He said the ministry was mindful of people’s needs and was trying its best to ensure that services were provided to the public.
“The continuity of service for our people, because it is one of the two major referral facilities for Fiji and the region,” he said.
“That is why the Government is putting all its effort into ensuring that it is continuing to remain functional while trying to improve the ageing infrastructure.
“Some say it has been neglected for some time, but neglect goes a long way back and we need to learn from these mistakes and move forward.”
He made the statement while responding to the spill of sluice water in two operating rooms recently.
The minister said materials like bed sheets were found inside the sluice discharge.
“Due to quick action by the maintenance team the defect was detected early, and the plumber on-site was able to clear the blockage and restore normal flow in the drainage system.
“This problem is an aging problem and in terms of the infrastructure and what it is meant to cater for, today the load has increased in terms of the population size, the service delivery aspect of it.
He said the infrastructure has not developed or been maintained for a long time, in accordance with the changes that came with time.
“And that is what we are facing right now in terms of the ongoing challenges. It has to do with the finer details of the infrastructure itself such as plumbing, roofing, electrical.”
Dr Lalabalavu said the deferred maintenance was now affecting healthcare service delivery.
“So, the ministry cannot empty a certain ward at any time to do an overhaul of the ward because at no time has CWM been empty.
“Our current plan right now is through our ongoing master plan with the Australian Government and within the master plan, there was a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) initial plan which identified certain areas within the hospital that needs urgent upgrading.”
Dual focus to cater for growing demand
GOVERNMENT will improve the condition of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and build a new hospital to cater for the growing demand for healthcare services in Suva and surrounding areas.
Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said these two options have been supported by Government in partnership with the Australian Government.
“We were looking at whether to build a new hospital or to improve on this one, CWM Hospital,” he said.
“These are the two directions the Government is taking. There is strong support for a new hospital but also to improve on the existing infrastructure and ensuring that it has some functionality in the long term.
“So, our current plan right now is to have the ongoing master plan with the Australian Government and the master plan had identified certain areas within the hospital that needs urgent upgrading.”
In confirming options to build a new hospital and improve CWM conditions, Dr Lalabalavu said this would ensure that ‘we still have some degree of operational aspect’.
“We will continue the work and the master plan will tell us what the hospital will look like. So, we are very fortunate that in the plan it also states that.”
Government has identified Valelevu as the site to build the new national hospital which is expected to cost
nearly $2billion.
The Australian Government has committed $14.5million to address urgent and infrastructure issues at the existing CWM Hospital.
