Authorities considering shutdown of Cornwall Regional Hospital

Dr. Winston De La Haye, Chief Medical Officer, has revealed that the authorities are seriously considering a shutdown of the Cornwall Regional Hospital in St. James until they have resolved the air quality crisis at the facility.  
   
Dr. De La Haye on Thursday said he has been given the task to look at what would be required to relocate all services offered at the 10-storey hospital.

"We're now looking at that option, which is really the ultimate option... and so I am actively involved in that process now to find space, make space, to divert the services elsewhere if it comes to that, and that's a decision that we'll have to make...But we're preparing ourselves in terms of what will be required for that," he told RJR News.

He said the ministry recognises the severity of the situation and will be doing all it can to safeguard the health of patients and staff at the Type A facility.                           
   
The Health Ministry has been under increasing pressure for the last few weeks to deal with the noxious fumes emanating from the ventilation system of the hospital.

The Nurses Association of Jamaica (NAJ) has already called for a shutdown of the facility. On Thursday, the Jamaica Workers Union (JWU), which represents scores of employees at the hospital, also joined the call for a shutdown so that comprehensive action can be taken.      
  
Clifton Brown, President of the union, argued that "while an evacuation of the entire building, logistically, would be awesome, it (the shutdown) is necessary" based on the scope of the problem. "It has to be done, and it has to be done now," he said.
   
Temporary treatment centres have been set up at the hospital, while some services and departments have been relocated to other facilities throughout Montego Bay.

A townhall meeting was scheduled for Thursday evening at Cornwall Regional to discuss a solution to the issue.   

Chemicals not identified
                           
Meanwhile, Dr. De La Haye said officials are yet to determine the chemicals associated with the noxious fumes. 
  
The team from the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) as well as local experts continue to work to identify the cause of the odour.

"We have done a reading and we know that the chemicals, for sure, that are involved in the spillage that (has been) going on for a number of years... would be the chemicals that they used to develop x-ray films. However...they haven't been able to identify the actual compound in the gas that people are smelling, and so, though we can deduce that if this is being spilled, then it's likely to be the vapours associated with that, there hasn't been any confirmation," Dr. De La Haye outlined. 

He said another team from PAHO will be arriving in Jamaica next week to look specifically at the gases in order to identify the associated chemicals.

Occupational Safety and Health Act

In the meantime, there is a renewed call for the Occupational Safety and Health Act to be brought to Parliament in the wake of the air quality crisis at Cornwall Regional.
  
In a news release Thursday afternoon, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, Opposition Spokesperson on Labour, lamented that the Bill continues to languish.
  
Mr. Ferguson is of the view that until the Act is passed, the rights of workers will be in danger.
  
He noted that the Occupational Safety and Health Act will guarantee progressive policies and standards in the work place.
  
The Opposition is urging Labour Minister Shahine Robinson to move with alacrity to bring the legislation to Parliament.