THE completed $1.3 billion Central Block of the Port of Spain General Hospital was handed over to the Ministry of Health as scheduled on July 14.
This was confirmed by Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John via a WhatsApp message to the Express yesterday.
John, who is the line minister for the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), handed over the keys and the Operations and Maintenance Manuals for the new 13 storey, 540 inpatient bed hospital to the Minister of Health, Dr Lackram Bodoe.
At the handover were John, Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr Rishad Seecheran, UDeCOTT chairman Shankar Bidaisee and other representatives of UDeCOTT, the board of directors and executive management of the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA), and members of the project team.
The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure stated on its Facebook page, ‘This formal handover marks the successful completion of a major national infrastructure project, bringing this state-of-the-art facility one step closer to serving patients and supporting the delivery of modern, high-quality healthcare.’
It added that the new Central Block stands as an investment in stronger public healthcare infrastructure and improved services.
The Ministry of Works and Infrastructure also told the Express via email that the handover signalled the first phase of the commissioning process for the Central Block.
It further noted that the Ministry of Health, and by extension the NWRHA, has assumed responsibility for the security, insurance and maintenance of the facility.
According to the ministry, an asset verification exercise will begin today, including a room by room verification of all furniture, fixtures and equipment (medical and otherwise).
It added that representatives involved in the exercise will include personnel from the Ministry of Health, the NWRHA, UDeCOTT, China Railway Construction Company Limited and VIKAB Engineering Consultants Limited. The ministry assured that upon completion of the asset verification exercise, the Health Ministry will continue preparations for the full operationalisation of the facility.
The Health Ministry stated on its Facebook page that the handover marked a significant milestone in the transformation of Trinidad and Tobago’s public healthcare infrastructure.
The ministry explained, ‘During the official handover, the ministerial delegation participated in a walkthrough of the state-ofthe- art facility, viewing its expanded diagnostic, surgical and critical care spaces ahead of the phased operationalisation of services.’
It stated that the new facility represents a major investment in modern, patient-centred healthcare and will significantly strengthen the delivery of specialised medical services for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
The Central Block is designed to include: an Accident and Emergency Department, operating theatres, recovery rooms, an Adult Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a High Dependency Unit (HDU), a Coronary Care Unit (CCU), Diagnostic Imaging and Radiology, clinical laboratories, a pharmacy, surgical wards, paediatric services, psychiatric services, haematology services, and ancillary clinical and support services.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association Idi Stuart told the Express yesterday the association is elated that the Central Block is moving closer to completion.
‘It was actually the association following the earthquake where we would have lobbied tremendously to have the old Central Block condemned and reopened as PAHO (Pan American Health Organization) would have indicated significant structural issues with that old Central Block,’ he said.
‘So, we see that this is a positive development,’ he added.
He also expressed hope that the completed new facility will have the capacity to absorb what he described as the overwhelming number of people awaiting admission at the Accident and Emergency Department of Port of Spain General Hospital.
‘For far too long, patients would have been disadvantaged by having to sleep on trolleys for days on end at the Port of Spain General Hospital Accident and Emergency Department,’ he said.
Original source: tt