The Mt Hope Women's Hospital is expected to be upgraded into a state of the art medical facility with a price tag of $61 million.Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan made the announcement at the post-Cabinet news briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, St Clair, yesterday.He said Cabinet had agreed to the development and refurbishment of the hospital in keeping with Government's thrust to improve the health sector.He said: "What we intend to do is an overall plan of the Mt Hope Women's Hospital, as well as construct two new high-rise, pre-fabricated buildings at the eastern side, where WASA is located."In doing so, we will be able to increase the number of patients being seen in a totally new capacity for clinics and colposcopy, which is assessment of the cervix for cancer."He said the population had increased since the hospital's establishment 31 years ago.The hospital offers services for anti-natal; post-natal, gynaecological, neo-natal and early paediatric patients.Khan said it was once earmarked "to go into" the main Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex but that never happened.
He said the upgrade would include a new building for out-patients since the current one "is in a very derelict condition."The upgrade would be done on a phase basis over an 18-month period, he said.A two-storey structure would be built to include a colposcopy unit as well as the "total out-patient department," he said.Khan added: "What we hope to do at the Ministry of Health is to provide state of the art movement in a women's hospital to promote training properly, as it is done now, as well as research and development in a pleasing atmosphere and with the doctors and nurses, which is the staff, and internal customers having a very nice place to stay."He said the overcrowded anti-natal ward and gynaecological wards would have new beds.He said there would be an increase in patient and foetal monitors, new curtains and fresh coats of paint to have "a patient-friendly atmosphere."
To be upgraded:
• Laundry system;
• elevators;
• engineering department;
• A/C units;
• delivery beds;
• kitchen;
• electrical;
• registration area;
• mortuary;
• monitors;
• operating theatre;
• recovery area;
• storage area; and
• bio-medical equipment. (RR)