Operations back to normal after heatwave damage

Operations have returned to normal at Jersey Hospital after record-breaking temperatures caused mechanical failures with air conditioning.

The heatwave in May affected the machinery and the hospital's medical director Simon West said work to fix the problem had been completed faster than expected allowing operations to be restarted.

He said all urgent cases were performed in early June when there was an interim solution and "patients did not have to wait longer than necessary".

West said 83 patients who needed routine, non-urgent procedures were affected.

He said: "All patients were contacted directly as quickly as possible, have been rescheduled and offered new dates."

The hospital has replaced the damaged chilled water unit and urgent and planned procedures operations were continuing as normal, West said.

The heat damaged three of the hospital's seven operating theatres when air-handling units on top of some of theatres failed, forcing it to close them for essential maintenance work.

West added he was confident the hospital had ensured patient safety and minimised disruption "while recovering services quickly and safely".

Jersey saw its temperature record for the hottest day in May broken three days in a row, with it reaching 34.2C (93.6F) on Tuesday 26 May.

West said: "These kinds of issues can occur in older facilities, particularly during periods of extreme weather, and we are grateful to islanders for their patience and understanding."

He said work is "in hand" for developing a permanent long-term solution.

Follow BBC Jersey on X and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.