Wahiawa hospital AC problems affect surgeries

Wahiawa General Hospital is gearing up to install a temporary unit to cool sections of the facility beset by problems with its aging air-conditioning system.

For about 10 days, problems with the air conditioning have affected the surgery room on the third floor and corridors on the second and third floors. Patient rooms on the second and third floors, however, remain unaffected.

“We’ve been experiencing problems with our chillers,” said new CEO Brian Cunningham.

Certain surgeries had to be rescheduled at other health-care facilities.

Portable units have been placed in affected areas until a temporary unit is scheduled to be installed Wednesday.

“As we all know, this is an aging facility. We just appreciate everybody’s patience as we address these issues,” Cunningham said.

Meanwhile, Wahiawa General is working toward a long-term solution.

“We need a full-functioning, permanent unit,” Cunningham said.