The operating theatre at the West Demerara Regional Hospital (WDRH) will begin regular functioning, and according to the Director of Regional Health Services, Dr Narine Singh, the health workers there will begin compiling a list of patients in need of surgery.

“The theatre was not operational so a list was never made. Now that things are back in order the list will be made and surgeries will be performed there,” Singh said.

The RHS Director added that in the last week work was done to ensure that the facility was up to standard and sterile.

“The last stages of the sterilisation was being done up to last week,” he said.

In a prior interview with Singh, he said the theatre was not in operation for the whole of last year due to electrical problems.

During that time, cases had to be referred to Georgetown Public Hospital.

Other problems at the West Demerara facility over the last year surrounded water supply and a malfunctioning generator, compounded by frequent blackouts from Guyana Power & Light (GPL).

Singh said those issues are now being resolved and he hopes the WDRH will function at full capacity soon.

The Director affirmed that major works are expected to be done at the WDRH.

So far, a new generator has been installed, bettering the capacity for delivery of quality health care in Region Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands).

Singh said, in terms of human resources, new nurses and a Medex as well as community health workers will be added to the staff complement.

“We will try to enhance the hospital so, as soon as the relevant people finish their training, they will be stationed there,” he informed.

Also part of the major works to be done at the regional hospital is the rehabilitation of sections of the complex, following assessments that were done to determine the needs.

Identified for rehabilitation are the in-patient ward and the surgical block.

Last year work was done on the Paediatric Ward, the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department and the out-patients block.