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Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre to open Feb 20, 2020- Hon Malone

- said several new & important services will be added in phases
The newly built Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda will be opening on February 20, 2020, according to Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Honourable Carvin Malone (AL). Photo: VINO
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) interacts with residents of Virgin Gorda at a community meeting at the Catholic Community Centre on January 23, 2020. Photo: VINO
Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) interacts with residents of Virgin Gorda at a community meeting at the Catholic Community Centre on January 23, 2020. Photo: VINO
Former Leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP1) Mr Myron V. Walwyn (AL) had failed on his promise to have the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda opened by February 22, 2020. Photo: VINO/File
Former Leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP1) Mr Myron V. Walwyn (AL) had failed on his promise to have the new Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda opened by February 22, 2020. Photo: VINO/File
VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI- There had been many dates set for the opening of the newly built Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre on Virgin Gorda, all of which failed to materialise under the now ousted National Democratic Party (NDP).

Residents of Virgin Gorda have now been given the assurance by Deputy Premier and Minister for Health and Social Development under the Virgin Islands Party (VIP), Honourable Carvin Malone (AL) that the medical facility will be opened on February 20, 2020.

“We are going to make sure that the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic, its scheduled for opening on the 20th February, and for that we have a lot of services we are going to add,” Hon Malone said at the January 23, 2020 Community Meeting at the Catholic Community on Virgin Gorda, which was called by Ninth District Representative, and Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Hon Vincent O. Wheatley.

NDP’s failed promises for votes

One would recall on the 2019 campaign trail the handing over of the keys for the facility was set for February 22, 2019 by the National Democratic Party, the day after Advanced Polling in the Territory and two days before the final polling day, February 25, 2019.

The promise was made by then Leader of the National Democratic Party (NDP1) Mr Myron V. Walwyn (AL) and then Junior Minister of Tourism and former Ninth District Representative, Mr Hubert R. O’Neal while campaigning in North Sound, Virgin Gorda on February 12, 2019.

The NDP again failed to deliver after no less than five previously promised completion dates.

‘We are going to swing the doors open’ on February 20- Hon Malone

Hon Malone, in a statement in the House of Assembly on Thursday October 17, 2019, said “I am delighted to report that the General Contractor, James Todman Construction Ltd., has now achieved substantial completion, and the project team is finalising the snag list with the contractor as to any outstanding defects for correction towards the full completion of the works by the end of November 2019.”

No opening date was promised at that time.

When announcing the scheduled opening date for the first time on January 23, 2020, Hon Malone told residents that a number of services that are not currently available at the existing facility will be added, with some in the first phase and others in the next.

“There are a lot of services we are going to add, even if they are not there now, they are being programmed and on the 20th of February we are going to swing the doors open for the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic.”

New services

In addition to existing clinical services, residents would enjoy the addition of ultra sound and x-ray facilities.

Hon Malone said among the services government is seeking to add to the medical centre is a dialysis unit.

“I understand that there are over 15 patients who have to travel back and forth every week for dialysis, three times a week. So we want to make sure that we put a unit here and a centre here so that this could be corrected. You don’t have to go here and there.”

They are works afoot also for an obstetrics and gynaecology unit to be added to the facility.

“The population continues to grow and if you want to have your baby born in Virgin Gorda, in the 9th District, you should be able to. We want to make sure that we have the facility so that you can have child birth right here in Virgin Gorda,” Hon Malone stated.

10 Responses to “Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre to open Feb 20, 2020- Hon Malone”

  • great (06/02/2020, 17:08) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    Can we please make sure a proper after hours policy is in place. Currently the stand by persons can't hardly be bothered to get out of bed quickly, not even when there is an emergency.
    • the rock (07/02/2020, 05:27) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      Nah that stand by person is bull $hit, them days should be over vg will be stupid to accept that, 24/7 opening hours!
    • lost (31/03/2020, 01:20) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Where is the medical centre? I don't see it on any online map, I can't find their website, and any online search doesn't provide an address or even a landmark that it's near.
  • staff (06/02/2020, 18:38) Like (5) Dislike (5) Reply
    Make sure there is enough staff because I not into any long long wait when I come.
  • why we liike to bash (06/02/2020, 19:29) Like (12) Dislike (0) Reply
    We like to bash who in government weather VIP or NDP or who ever P, even government bash each other I swear they spend more time blaming the previous government than spending more time trying move the country forward. NDP spent near 8 years bashing VIP for wasting money when they was in power now VIP doing the same and we wonder why we still under developed in the BVI. We already wasted enough time and money without getting value for money. Lets give NDP credit for at least starting the Clinic cause had so many years in office and VG never got their clinic all they got was broken promises by boat parties for many years. Now they finally got some good reps who would lift VG off the ground and turn it in to what it should have been years ago.
  • clap clap (06/02/2020, 19:52) Like (8) Dislike (7) Reply
    Only VIP can make things happen in the bvi
  • Daisy Auden (06/02/2020, 22:12) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    First of all, I am very thankful to you. It is very glad to read the article. This article helps people to gain their knowledge in a specific field.
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  • Angei (07/02/2020, 06:26) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    It's great news for the opening of the Iris Oneal health
    medical centre, trusting the state of the art facility remembered to make needed accommodation for the staff. Eg staff lunch room and a room for staff on call to rest on the compound to answer emergency calls, instead of jumping out of bed into what ever weathet condition there maybe. The health facility should be accommodating anytime day or night without delay.
    • jump out of bed (07/02/2020, 09:22) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
      The on call staff can't be bothered now to even crawl out of bed for an emergency.

      And weather conditions.... if you are in the medical field the last of your worries should be the weather. Grow up.
    • Virgin Gordian (07/02/2020, 09:58) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      For your information, the old clinic has a functioning apartment; the nurses/doctors refused to stay there. I think they use it as a storeroom or for the custodial staff to hang out.


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