Noxious fumes at Cornwall Regional not a major risk to staff - Health Ministry

The Ministry of Health is insisting that there is no major risk to staff at the Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, St. James which is being affected by noxious fumes.
 
The fumes are being spread by an old ventilation system.
 
Workers continue to grapple with eye and skin irritations, such as rashes.
 
Clifton Brown, President of the Jamaica Workers Union (JWU), told RJR News on Sunday night that although some clinics, departments and outpatients have been relocated from affected sections of the hospital to other facilities in the parish, this is not enough.
 
Addressing the concerns on TVJ's Smile Jamaica, on Monday morning, Sancia Bennett Templer, Permanent Secretary in the Health Ministry, said everything is being done to ensure the protection of workers and patients.
  
She disagreed with the suggestion that the hospital be shutdown to minimise the risk of the fumes spreading.

"You can't shut down your type A hospital unless you absolutely have to...We're taking it very very carefully (and) we're not going to take any action which is going to create panic," she insisted.

"Some staff do have skin irritations, some staff have had respiratory issues which have been fairly easily resolved, so we're not saying that there is absolutely no risk, we're saying that the situation is being monitored on a continuous basis," the permanent secretary reiterated. 

Mrs Bennett Templer said in another 10 days, temporary facilities should be provided by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) on the hospital compound. In addition, engineers from the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) will be brought in to assist in restoration efforts.

"We are really doing everything that we can to keep the services going and at the same time, keep the hospital running, and keep the patients and staff secured," she stressed.