Government has announced major improvements in the health care sector that would see an expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s (QEH) capacity by 40 per cent, and upgrades to the island’s polyclinics, including construction of two new ones.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley made the disclosure about the efforts to improve efficiencies in the sector at the official opening of Bayview Hospital’s Urgent Care Facility, yesterday.
Speaking to the planned expansion at the hospital, Ms. Mottley shared that over the last four months, Government had been in discussions with a Chinese company on the project, which she described as the largest expansion of the Martindale’s Road, St. Michael plant, since its construction.
The Prime Minister added that Minister of Health and Wellness, Senator Dr. The Most Honourable Jerome Walcott, is expected to make a Ministerial Statement in Parliament “in the near future” to provide more details on the QEH expansion project.
Regarding the polyclinic upgrades, Ms. Mottley shared that Government had entered a partnership with the Saudi Development Fund to finance the construction of two new polyclinics – Randal Phillips Polyclinic at Oistins, Christ Church, and Eunice Gibson Polyclinic, at Warrens, St. Michael, and the refurbishment of others.
One notable feature at Randal Phillips, she said, would be its capacity to have up to 25 beds to alleviate the pressure on the main hospital during health emergencies.
“The combined investment with the construction of two new polyclinics, and with the significant expansion of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, plus the upgrade of the existing polyclinics, plus the commitment to purchase over $140 million in equipment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, the first tranche of which has already started, is a testament to the extent that the Government is committed to upgrading the quality of healthcare in Barbados for Barbadians…, “ Ms. Mottley stated.
She also touched on efforts to improve cancer care, including the commissioning of a linear accelerator at the QEH to improve cancer treatment and installation of a PET CT Scan at Bayview Hospital in the coming months.
Following the event, Ms. Mottley toured the facility with Bay View Hospital officials. (PR/GIS)
