Operating Rooms Without Renovation for 42 Years: Reconstruction of the Latvian Oncology Center Begins 0 12

The operating rooms have not been renovated since their construction - 42 years ago.

After transferring patients to the "Gaiļezers" clinic, the wards became more cramped, but this was done to avoid reducing the number of cancer treatment surgeries. Doctors also believe that patients will experience fewer complications and infections in the postoperative period - it was impossible to eradicate bacteria in the old facilities.

"After the operation, everything is fine, I was in intensive care for two days, now I have been in the ward for two days. One more week, and the doctor promises to let me go home. I was in the old [hospital]. Quite a sad sight, I must say. Like in Soviet times," said patient Guntars Villers.

This is the feeling one gets when entering the operating block of the Latvian Oncology Center. But the most dangerous risks are not visible to the eye - it is the risk of infections that lurk in every crevice in the floor and in the seams of the tiles, because it was simply impossible to properly clean the surfaces here.

"These are dangerous infections for patients that usually appear after surgery. And then we fight these complications. Wound infections are the least of the evils," said the head of the oncology surgery clinic, Professor Armands Siviņš.

Since surgeries have been conducted in the facilities of the neighboring "Gaiļezers" clinic, doctors have an intuitive feeling that the number of complications has decreased.

"We do not have data yet, it is too early, but there is a feeling that there may be fewer infections, and this is not only related to the ventilation system," said the chief physician of the oncology center, Professor Andrei Pchelkhin.

Major reconstruction work in the operating block of the oncology center will begin immediately after Easter. The new workplaces for doctors are currently in the neighboring "Gaiļezers" clinic. Patients are advised to be patient.

"We are rescheduling surgeries. Starting next week, next month, we will offer faster surgeries. There will be a slight queue, but we are managing. We are prioritizing. First, patients in need of oncological care. Second, metastatic tumors. And third, those unrelated to this," said Pchelkhin.

"The builders will need two years. We are still waiting for 12 million euros for equipment. This is likely a task for the next government," Siviņš added.