THE Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) says a glitch that affected the facility's oxygen supply to its operating theatre has been temporarily resolved and that measures are being taken to implement long-term solutions.

According to the hospital, a temporary alternate supply of oxygen has been installed until the main source is fixed.

"The nature of the problem is a situation whereby for some time there have been occasional fluctuations in the required oxygen pressure to operate relevant equipment in the main operating theatre," explained David Dobson, acting CEO of KPH.

"The service providers have been working round the clock to diagnose the problem and recommend solutions. This has been an extremely long and tedious process," he said.

He added that the South East Regional Health Authority "has approved a contract for a company to expedite long-term measures to correct the problem".

We are told that it will take two weeks to supply the raw material and another three to four weeks for the work to be carried out," Dobson said.

He also pointed out that the hospital is currently upgrading two additional operating theatres in the out-patient department to facilitate major surgeries, among other operations. That upgrade is expected to be completed by the end of the week.