Imbert orders upgrades for hospital units

Health Minister Colm Imbert has given instructions for refurbishment work to begin immediately on the Maternity and Neonatal Units at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, following a recent visit to the institution. In a release from the Communications Department of the Ministry of Health, it was stated that the work would be overseen by the recently created Special Projects Team in the Ministry of Health.

Work mandated to begin on the Neonatal ward will include the:-
* installation of new specialised equipment including infant incubators, ventilators, monitors, suction equipment, ECG monitors and centrifuges;
* rewiring of the electrical systems to allow air-conditioning;
* air-conditioning of the Unit, with appropriate isolation of ICU areas;
* complete upgrade of plumbing systems and fittings;
* complete interior restoration;
* electronic security;
* partitioning for specialised functions such as a breastfeeding room, patients’ waiting room, doctors’ offices, on-call room and storage room for medical supplies;
* construction of changing room facilities for staff;
* construction of a reception area;
* replacement of the entire floor surface of the Unit with appropriate custom-made sheeting designed to withstand rigorous use in a hospital environment;
* removal of all existing louvre windows and replacement with modern metal-framed glass windows; and
* installation of new burglar proofing.
Work on the Maternity Unit will include:-
* air conditioning of the Labour Ward and the delivery room;
* provision of private rooms for mothers and their families;
* construction of visitors’ toilets for the Labour Ward;
* replacement of the entire floor surface of the Labour Ward with appropriate custom-made sheeting designed to withstand rigorous use in a hospital environment;
* complete interior restoration; and
* electronic security for main door entrance.
When work is completed on both the Neonatal and Maternity Wards, they will both be properly equipped, especially in terms of facilities for infection control, in order to ensure that mothers and infants receive the highest standard of health care.