With the countdown to the December 1 General Election intensifying, officials at the newly completed St Jude Hospital (SJH) have moved swiftly to shut down social media claims alleging electrical faults and potential fire hazards at the facility.
A post circulating online alleged that staff were exposed to “electrical sparks” and equipment issues in the hospital’s laundry department—claims that quickly gained traction amid the politically charged atmosphere. The post also accused the government of prioritizing photo-ops over patient and staff safety.
However, Communications Specialist Jade Brown has dismissed the allegations outright, describing the report as baseless and crafted for political disruption.
“These claims are completely false,” Brown stated. “There was no spark, no malfunction, no fire risk—nothing of the sort. Everything at the St Jude Hospital is functioning as it should.”
Brown confirmed that the hospital has continued its phased commissioning without interruption.
She noted that the physiotherapy department opened on November 24, and the laundry department is scheduled to be commissioned later this week. The kitchen is expected to come online in the coming weeks as part of the hospital’s transition into full operational readiness.
According to Brown, the facility remains a modern, internationally compliant medical complex, with the contractor still on-site to finalize equipment installation from three newly received shipping containers.
She attributed the spread of the rumour to the heightened political climate.
“This is the season where anything can surface,” she said. “People should not be surprised when the opposition resorts to sensational claims.”
Hospital authorities maintain that operations are proceeding smoothly and insist that there is no safety threat to staff or patients at the new facility.