Shtip Clinical Hospital starts roof replacement; orthopaedists and surgeons to share operating theatre during works
Work has begun near the new Emergency Center; orthopaedics will use the surgical theatre on alternating days while the orthopaedic operating room is repaired.
Reconstruction of the roof at the Clinical Hospital — Shtip began two months after a violent storm damaged the facility. In July an orkan-strength gust reaching 134 kilometres per hour tore the metal roofing away; workers have already removed the damaged covering and the first phase focuses on the section by the new Emergency Center.
Work under way while some departments run at reduced capacity
"As you can see, it has been completely removed and within a few days they should install the new structure. This is the first phase; regarding the second, that will be on the main building — the entire roof needs to be replaced," said Vladko Zahariev, director of the Clinical Hospital — Shtip.
The damaged roof structure forced several departments to limit their operations and interventions. The orthopaedics operating theatre remains out of commission while repairs continue.
"We have a reduction in the orthopaedics department, where the orthopaedic theatre is out of function, but one modification was made so we can serve patients. Orthopaedists work in the surgical operating room and only at certain times. One day surgeons work, one day orthopaedists, so there is no bigger backlog in the schedule and in emergency pathology," Zahariev added.
The July storm also caused the ceiling to leak in the orthopaedics ward, prompting the urgent need to replace the roof. Reconstruction work will next move to the main hospital building once the initial phase by the Emergency Center is completed.
Photo: press material from the event
