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New Peebles Hospital opening likely for March 2014 – Health Minister

- says phased approach will be taken
Health Minister Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton revealed recently that the new Peebles Hospital is likely to be officially opened in March 2014 while confirming that a handing over of the keys for the completed construction could be expected by month end or early in November. Photo: VINO/File
Hon. Skelton told listeners that the hospital is expected to be opened in phases. Photo: VINO/File
Hon. Skelton told listeners that the hospital is expected to be opened in phases. Photo: VINO/File
The Health Minister disclosed that he has spoken with officials from HIMA Hospital Systems in Puerto Rico and the Cleveland Clinic among others. Photo: VINO/File
The Health Minister disclosed that he has spoken with officials from HIMA Hospital Systems in Puerto Rico and the Cleveland Clinic among others. Photo: VINO/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI – Health Minister Hon. Ronnie W. Skelton revealed recently that the new Peebles Hospital is likely to be officially opened in March 2014 while confirming that a handing over of the keys for the completed construction could be expected by month end or early in November.

“We are looking at a date in March [2014] to officially open the [hospital],” Hon. Skelton said on the NDP radio programme on October 7, 2013.

Hon. Skelton told listeners that the hospital is expected to be opened in phases, “there will be a phased opening of the hospital. It’s a facility that we’re seeking help from the various professionals.”

He disclosed that he has spoken with officials from HIMA Hospital Systems in Puerto Rico and the Cleveland Clinic among others. “They are all showing interest depending on what level we want them to be involved in,” the Health Minister said.

Speaking on the issue of accreditation, he added, “We need to bring the standard of the hospital up so that it can be accredited so that people can move from here to whatever major tertiary care hospital they need to go to and the results and information that they walk with would be sufficient for doctors to make decisions.”

Staffing issues

In addressing the question of staffing, Hon. Skelton related, “It’s going to take some time if we just want local professionals working on it, it’s not going to happen overnight. It has to be something that we to focus on and train people to do so.”

The Health Minister also spoke of the difficulty of attracting Cuban trained doctors within the Virgin Islands as is done in other Caribbean countries such as St Lucia and St Vincent. “They have set up systems inside their healthcare system… as a tutelage kind of facility to see what level of training the Cuban doctors that they have attracted [are at] because they are Spanish speaking and deal with a different system.”

“Now we don’t have the capacity here to police medical professionals,” he added, “so what we depend on is for other places [such as] the University of the West Indies… most of the developed countries of the world. Once they have qualifications from there then we accept them here to be registered.”

He said Cuban doctors and those from Santo Domingo have not gone through those level of systems therefore the VI doesn’t possess the capacity to say whether or not these doctors can be used to work on patients locally, “if something goes wrong, we’ll be in trouble.”

The Health Minister disclosed that the hospital is currently being outfitted with beds, CT scan and other machines to enable the hospital to function. He also revealed that the hospital will feature three operating theatres, one of which is set aside for OB/GYN (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) procedures.

Hon. Skelton further stated that his Ministry is planning to partner with several organisations locally and overseas in order to provide the necessary care to residents as required.

Hon. Archibald C. Christian noted that government remains open to donors in relation to the supply of equipment and furnishings that the hospital may require and invited businesses and individuals to step up to the plate in this regard.

“There is no hospital that can cover every single eventuality, so I can’t tell you that we’ll tell you everything, that would be not telling the truth,” the Health Minister added.

23 Responses to “New Peebles Hospital opening likely for March 2014 – Health Minister”

  • Here goes... (10/10/2013, 08:17) Like (3) Dislike (4) Reply
    Every dam month this thing going open…too much spin and lies that is another reason why the NDP must go!!!
    • @ Here goes... (10/10/2013, 09:27) Like (2) Dislike (3) Reply
      me agree I don't know how we continue allow these guys to away with this type of crap.
    • fool (10/10/2013, 09:32) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
      keys handing over this month, the hospital will be populated and functional by march...they need to use smaller words for you people with animated pictures
  • Want2Kno (10/10/2013, 08:17) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    Wow...the date moved again? Didn't Cromwell Smith say November? What's the latest project cost?
  • l (10/10/2013, 08:50) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cuban doctors are some of the best in the world. We should consider getting a few of them.
    • . (10/10/2013, 19:31) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      We already have a cuban politician.
    • Outsider (23/10/2013, 08:32) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Really? Who told you that? I,ve had the opportunity to work with them for years, its the nurses who teaches them. And dont talk about the nurses that got their training in Cuba, they dont know squat!!
      • bill drake...nevis photographer (18/11/2013, 15:04) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        nurses CARE......doctors Heal...............

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  • qc (10/10/2013, 09:15) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sounds like more hype than value
    • open wide (13/10/2013, 15:48) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Stop politicizing something that has to do with the nations health!
  • D12 (10/10/2013, 09:34) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Weak minded people quick to blame someone
  • Well (10/10/2013, 09:40) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply

    Well this over priced project will soon be over in terms of construction but due to ignorance by this same Minister we will be paying for this expensive mistake for years. Ronnie you have a lot to answer for with this project.

  • Here we go (10/10/2013, 09:49) Like (8) Dislike (4) Reply
    The NDP good at making us focus on what they want us to focus on when in fact the same NDP signed a $100mil plus construction project for $64 mil & now handing over the shell finally for close to $200 mil & then have us pay for their huge $100mil mistake through NHI because the equipment & staffing hasn't been factored in as yet. What a heist & no one is being held accountable for this because its the choir boy & his NDP doing it.
  • investigator (10/10/2013, 10:15) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    These agencies or sat bodies have some of the biggest white collar sammers.
  • Virgin Son (10/10/2013, 12:39) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Ronnie need to look into Cuban doctors from talking crap about if something happen…it can happen to any doctor
    • Native son (12/10/2013, 09:07) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      @ Virgin Son, I agree with you. Ronnie makes it appear as if the doctors or hospital is devoid of malpractice insurance.
  • Concern 1 (10/10/2013, 13:23) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    We need more individuals coming back with a medical degree as it seems that every household in Tola has a lawyer. If we don't empower our own then we are laying grounds for outsiders, ex-pats and any body else.
  • . (10/10/2013, 14:13) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    A hundred million for a empty egg shell. what will be the cost of the egg white and yolk buddy?
  • eat school fee (10/10/2013, 18:29) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

    when that date comes we hear another lie and spin from crum**ell

    • @ eat school fee (10/10/2013, 21:12) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
      I hear yuh ....... but yuh en tired hearing the same old "newsflash" from the ndp???yeap we are
  • work man (10/10/2013, 20:35) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    The hospital will hand over this month but it will not be in operation because it need a lot of good doctors and nurses to run it ,thrust me B.V.I it is a top class hospital you all getting and it is very big them few doctors and nurses you all have cannot run this one ,so bare with the ministers ,I work their so am telling u all .if u want some pic check me

  • Real Talk (11/10/2013, 11:01) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply

    Every £$%^^ year this hospital opening!

  • Hidden Cost (12/10/2013, 09:11) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    @ Real Talk, once the hospital opens, the headline will change: "Hospital closing"


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