Construction of Carenage Health Centre starts tomorrow

Plans are also moving apace for the reconstruction of a new Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH) with the demolition of the nurses hostel and Ward Eight.

Other plans in place include the reintroduction of a paediatric unit at the PoSGH.

These plans were disclosed yesterday by North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) Chief Executive Officer Judith Baliram at the Public Board Meeting 2014 held at the NALIS Audio Visual Room, Port-of-Spain.

Responding to a question from a member of the public on whether plans were in place for a new Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Baliram said the master plan was completed, and is currently with the Ministry of Health. Construction will not start in the current fiscal year, she said.

In relation to the safety of the Central Block of the hospital, she said that a structural analysis and seismic study of the Central Block of the PoSGH was done. She did not say what was the outcome of the analysis and study, but said that plans were in place to look at the recommendations and start with the building of a new hospital.

“Space has been cleared where the nurses hostel used to be,” she said “so have some of the plans have in fact started.”

In a report in which she reviewed the NWRHA’s performance for the current year and shared future plans, Baliram said that before the end of the fiscal year construction works will begin on the new Carenage Health Centre, the Dental Suites at St James Diagnostic Health Facility will be reopened, and a new elevator will be installed in the North Block of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital (PoSGH).

In addition the platform for a CT Scan will be built and the roadway to the PoSGH compound will be paved.

Questioned about a proper health centre for Diego Martin, she said the NWRHA has secured lands for the construction of the Diego Martin Health Centre on the Wendy Fitzwilliam Boulevard.

A note for approval for construction to start, she said has been sent to Cabinet. “We are hoping that in the next fiscal year, we will start construction of the Diego Martin Health Centre,” she said.

On the issue of safety of ambulances going into East Port-of-Spain, a resident from the area noted that residents cannot get the service and persons have died while waiting for hours to get a response.

Noting that the common excuse is that police escorts are required, a resident noted that the same ambulances could be seen in the very East Port-of-Spain areas while off duty.