The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

THE $53 million Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Critical Care Block is roughly 80 per cent complete, Cavalier Construction’s managing director yesterday telling Tribune Business it was targeting an end-July competition.

Richard Wilson said 200 persons were currently employed on the project, with 700-800 having worked over its full life.

“The project is going very well,” he added. “As anyone can see it’s going up very quickly. It’s looking good.”

The construction of the proposed Critical Care Block at the Princess Margaret Hospital has been dubbed the “single largest investment in healthcare infrastructure” at the public sector-facility. 

The block is expected to be outfitted with more than $20 million in new medical equipment. “We are basically doing the interiors now and we are getting ready to install the first phase of the equipment,” said Mr Wilson.

“I would say we probably won’t be finished until the end of July. We have started on the ceiling and we are doing the sheet rock wall. We haven’t done any painting inside or put in any of the special flooring yet, and this all has to be co-ordinated because it’s on three levels. All of that needs scheduling and time management. It’s very sequential work. You can’t put the floor down until you do the ceilings; it’s just basically management of the sequential work now.”

Mr Wilson added: “I would say we’re probably 80 per cent complete. Everything is under control and we are moving towards an end of July completion.”

Upon finish, the block will comprise six state-of-the-art operating theatres with modern technology. The unit will also comprise 18 recovery beds; 20 ICU (Intensive Care Unit) rooms; 48 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) beds; new laboratory facilities; upgraded administrative facilities; upgraded electrical, water and sewerage; air-conditioning and fire protection services; and a new main entry into the facility and shared services.