Minister of Health Renward Wells.
By LEANDRA ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
lrolle@tribunemedia.net
THE government has allocated ten million dollars for renovations to be completed at the Princess Margaret Hospital, Health Minister Renward Wells announced on Friday.
The remediation project will allow for major improvements at the facility’s emergency department urgent care, resulting in enhanced security, a new entrance, isolation room and other changes to the wound care and orthopedic departments.
Meanwhile, other renovations will include an expansion to the Agape Family Medical Clinic, the conversion of PMH’s old operating theatre suites into a 19 bed inpatient suite and construction of bathrooms in the old ICU, Legacy, and Outpatient Departments.
Speaking during a Ministry of Health press conference on Friday, Mr Wells said the projects are expected to be completed this year.
“Upon completion in September 2020, it is expected that much needed inpatient beds will be restored to address the overcrowded Princess Margaret Hospital,” he continued.
“Enabling works and renovations to the Emergency Department are ongoing and the public will see some phases of this renovation being completed by the end of the year. Renovations for the relocation of the orthopaedic and wound care departments are also ongoing.
“The phase II of the project is the Metal Roof Replacements programme which should come on-stream in October 2020.”
On Friday, the health minister also gave an update on the renovation work being done at the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama, which was severely damaged during Hurricane Dorian in early September.
Last year, it was estimated that the total value of repairs and renovations of the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama was around $20 million.
According to Mr Wells, $21 million dollars has been allocated for the phased redevelopment of the Rand hospital.
The first phase of the project, which focuses on renovations at the main entrance, foyer, pharmacy, admissions and paediatrics, is 80 percent complete and projected to finished by the end of September.
Meanwhile, the second phase, which focuses on repairing the medical, surgical, step-down and intensive care units, is 65 per cent complete and scheduled for completion in October.
As it relates to the third phase, he added: “The Rand Memorial Hospital Restoration Part C project is budgeted at $1,750,000. It started on 29th April, 2020 and is expected to be completed in November 2020. The project scope will encompass the East Wing, Public Corridor, the Healing Gardens and Chapel; and it is currently 45% completed.”
Mr Wells also said that a COVID-19 programme has been established for the Grand Bahama hospital, which will incorporate three projects inclusive of a COVID-19 Infectious Disease Unit, an Infectious Disease Unit Cancer Association project and the completion of a Kitchen Cafeteria.
The Infectious Disease Unit is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by early September.
Comments
moncurcool 3 years, 7 months ago
Why are all of our governments so New Providence centric? Could the government not have taken that $10 million and built a new hospital in Grand Bahama? Or use it to build a bridge between Abaco and Grand Bahama to connect those two economies and spur development? Or build a hospital in Long Island? It is time our governments learn that the Bahamas is more than New Providence.
Cobalt 3 years, 7 months ago
Say what??? Build a new hospital with 10 million dollars??? Hospitals cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build.
tribanon 3 years, 7 months ago
Giving Renward Wells $10 million to engage crony contractors will end up equating to $5 million of value at most for the Bahamian people on completion of the projects, assuming they ever get completed as originally planned.
bogart 3 years, 7 months ago
Proper pathways, walkways afterwards persons parking in PMH Car Parking areas needs to be created. Bahamians and others suffering in various disease Non critical immediate Emergency, majority of visitors to PMH managing to find and search for parking spaces going over that ordeal have to exit with their driver accompanying being pedestrians leaving car in chaotic PMH parking lot east.
For years now there have been majority of the pedestrian traffic exiting PMH Car Parking area east have to duck and weave incominc cars, Garbage trucks, heavy duty delivery vehicles going past maintenance building, vehicles stopping and waiting for cars backing out and times Security guards overwhelmed dealing wid frustrated vehicle drivers...area wid hundreds of cars, trucks.....and in middle of way wid all dis.....Pedestrians have to walk going an coming..cars, moving, stopping, reversing back, truck deliverin, hundreds cars going coming through to hilltop..!!!!! Other entrance from Shirley St immediate leading to PMH Parking lot, Medical staff, Student Nursing School, other vehicles have to navigate past in immediate road corridor wid cars parking on both sides road next to and often one vehicle can drive thru at time. Not too long ago pedestrian get knock down in Parking lot an died. All this time the experts dealing with Emergency entrance and having their own special echelons parking lot forget other end majority use regular PMH parking an pedestrian walking an safety.
thephoenix562 3 years, 7 months ago
10 million dollars can barely build a new clinic let alone a hospital.Lets talk 250- 500 million dollars .
proudloudandfnm 3 years, 7 months ago
10 million?
Finally get to re-tile an operating room. Yaayyyy!
rodentos 3 years, 7 months ago
or a golden toilet
bahamianson 3 years, 7 months ago
Hold on , 10 million. Wait, that's 10 mil , subcontracted for 7 million , and 2 million kick back. So, actually, it's 5 million going to the renovations.
TalRussell 3 years, 7 months ago
Comrade Renward is equally as proficient for not explaining that the allocated ten million dollars is really for long on the PMH's drawing board's renovations table going back to the 2012-2017 victories election for Perry Gladstone's PLP party, as he was for not answering the opposition's Mr. Minnis's questions regarding the why did his signatory become attached to a Letter of Intent? Just couldn't make this stuff up. Just couldn't. Nod Once for Yeah, Twice for No?
DDK 3 years, 7 months ago
Which Party does this guy belong to? Oh! Oh! I know! The one in power 😂🤣😂
trueBahamian 3 years, 7 months ago
He's talking about renovations but we don't have PMH up to speed to handle an influx of Covid-19 patients. Also, the doctors and nurses haven't been dealt with.
Did they disclose which companies got these contracts? Also, was it a fair and open bidding process? The words transparency and accountability is deafening here.
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