Source: CNC3
The Ministry of Health (MoH) and the North West Regional Health Authority (NWRHA) has agreed to construct a new 540 bed patient tower to replace the now decanted Central Block of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital.
The ministry shared the information today Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) and the Medical Association (TTMA) at the ministry's head office, Port of Spain.
The TTRNA and the TTMA were presented with two options for consideration:
The retrofitting of the Central Block to make it appropriate for re-occupancy or identification and re-purposing of clinical spaces within the compound of the General Hospital Port-of-Spain and the St. James Medical Complex.
The ministry said that in the interest of patient and staff safety, Health Minister Terrance Deyalsingh expressed his disagreement with the retrofitting option, a position which was supported and reaffirmed by both the presidents of the TTRNA and the TTMA.
Discussions subsequently focused on moving ahead with the second option of re-purposing clinical space.
This focused on three buildings on the compound of the General Hospital Port-of-Spain: a four-storey building; a two-storey building; the single-storey Allied Building; as well as available space at the St. James Medical Complex.
Collectively, it is estimated that these spaces can accommodate 300 in-patients.
All clinical services previously housed at the Central Block continue to operate at this time.
