By next month, Health Minister Dr Fuad Khan expects to receive a detailed plan to improve the Port-of-Spain General Hospital. Khan said yesterday while there was still a lot of work to be done to complete the plan, architects were trying to finalise the project as soon as possible. "We could be looking at within a month for everything to be completed and submitted, given the amount of work that still has to be done," he added.
The plan will aim at improving the overall structure of the hospital to ensure efficient use of space and resources. Khan asked for a plan after touring the hospital last month. He also insisted such a plan had never been done before. Architect Geoffrey MacLean, however, said last month he had supplied such a plan and also had communicated his concern about the safety of the hospital to the Ministry of Health on October 4, 2010. He also sent a statement to the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Management (ODPM), which also was forwarded to the Health Ministry.
MacLean said he sent his plan to the North West Regional Health Authority's (NWRHA) chief executive officer, Judith Ramoutar. She, however, denied any knowledge of MacLean and of the plan. Questioned about MacLean's statements, Khan said: "Geoffrey MacLean is talking a lot of nonsense."
A 2009 report by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) identified the central block of the hospital as the most at risk of a disaster, specifically an earthquake. The report added: "Generally the structural condition of the buildings was very poor and urgent remedial action is recommended.
"Of particular concern are the Central Block and the associated building housing the operating theatres and central sterile supplies department."