Nurse recruitment for new Peebles Hospital a significant concern – Health Minister
During a meeting held for the constituents of the Fourth District last evening, November 15, 2012 at the Noel Lloyd Positive Action Movement Park, one resident expressed his unease about the cost and source of funding for the staffing and equipment at the new Peebles Hospital which is being constructed and currently slated for completion in August 2013.
The Hon. Minister in his response expressed that the estimated cost of equipment for the hospital was in the region of $10M and noted that some of the equipment was already purchased. He also noted that donations were being made of a CT scanner and a MRI machine.
He stated that the biggest challenge was staffing of the hospital and noted from observations made that there was a need for about 32 doctors. He expressed however, that he felt that this issue could be resolved.
He also said that the issue of sufficient nurses would also pose problem and said that “over the years… we trained quite a number of nurses… that never came back… and they never paid back either.”
“Our intention is to call them home or ask for our monies,” he said while acknowledging that “it’s not going to make up the number.”
The Hon. Minister also noted that there are currently a number of nurses being trained but indicated that even these would not suffice since the projected number of nurses needed was in the region of 200-odd nurses “if we’re going to ramp up the hospital overnight.”
“The whole intention,” he added, “was to do a phased approach so that whatever mistakes [are] made will not be multiplied… but we can have a learning curve and reduce mistakes.”
Hon. Skelton further indicated, “The protocol for what should happen, when it should happen and how it should happen is being done… so we have some challenges... but I don’t think the money for it is going to be the biggest challenge.”
The Minister in response to another question, also stated that the hospital is expected to be commissioned “within three months after” its date of completion.
“There were some studies that were already done that gave some markers… so we’re not going to re-invent the wheel, we’re going to go with some of those studies.”
During the meeting, residents raised concerns with Ministers about issues around the Territory that affected them including littering and construction works among others.
Hon. Skelton was joined by Hon. Mark Vanterpool, Hon. Myron V. Walwyn and Hon. Archibald C. Christian in answering these concerns.
19 Responses to “Nurse recruitment for new Peebles Hospital a significant concern – Health Minister”
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