Residents will not be disappointed with New Peebles Hospital – Hon. Skelton
The Health Minister made the declaration during a hand over ceremony for the New Peebles Hospital yesterday, October 31, 2013 held before a fairly sized audience including government ministers and functionaries at the hospital’s atrium.
The new 7-floor structure is expected to be fully completed and functional in time for March 2014. The hospital which was constructed at a cost of over $100M, will be able to accommodate 120 beds once fully outfitted.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Devlopment, Mrs Petrona N. Davies revealed that the ground floor will include a pharmacy, catering and dining area and a gift shop, in addition to reception and administration areas. The second story will also have a chapel, administrative offices and a physical therapy unit which will contain a state of the art hydro-therapy pool.
The third floor will house accident and emergency, radiology, medical/surgical and psychiatric wards while the fourth floor will be designated for operating theatres, procedure, recovery and endoscopy rooms as well as critical care, neo-natal and obstetrics units. There will also be three labour/delivery and post-partum recovery rooms.
Paediatrics and surgery will be done on the fifth floor while the sixth floor has been set aside for strategic opportunities for expansion into the medical tourism market.
Hon. Skelton remarked that the external works done on the new Peebles hospital have been completed at a high standard and credited contractor, James Todman Construction Ltd with a job well done. He was also praised for delivering the project within the original contract sum.
“The quality of work produced is of the calibre that this government expects for this facility that would serve the healthcare needs of our people,” the Health Minister said.
He expressed that the facility was on par with any of the high quality healthcare institutions he had seen in many other parts of the world.
The Health Minister also offered government’s unwavering commitment towards continuous improvement in providing the highest possible standards of healthcare service in the territory.
“This is indeed a proud milestone on our journey on moving ahead,” he declared while announcing that a tender has already been issued for transition management works to prepare a seamless transfer of operations.
Hon. Skelton said he was encouraged that several businesses had expressed their interest in partnering with the BVI Health Services Authority (BVIHSA) to purchase equipment and other resources needed. He also announced that the Social Security Board one of the first of these entities to make a pledge in the sum of $1.5M towards the New Peebles.
“Whatever it is, if it’s just a hospital bed, a wheelchair… we’ll take it,” Hon. Skelton stated.
National Health Strategy
According to the Health Minister, the newly constructed hospital along with the soon to be tendered Virgin Gorda Medical Centre and the proposed expansion and renovation of several community clinics are all part of the infrastructural component of government’s holistic national health strategy.
He said the strategy also includes an affiliation with the Puerto Rico based HIMA/Health whose doctors are brining specialty services to the VI’s clinics on a regular basis. Hon. Skelton said this partnership reduces cost and inconvenience to residents.
Hon. Skelton further stated that the new health information system coupled with the government’s capacity building initiatives have steadily improved BVIHSA’s operational efficiency.
National Health Insurance
The Health Minister also touted the territory’s proposed National Health Insurance system which he remarked will enable the government to sustain its goal of universal healthcare for all residents.
“We also remain resolute in our commitment to ensure that everyone has access to affordable high quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay,” Hon. Skelton announced. He said this will be done while safeguarding the sustainability of the local health system.
He further stated that steady strides were being made in the area of health promotion in partnership with other sectors as the territory works towards tackling the issue of chronic diseases.
Attendees at the ceremony were treated to a beautiful rendition of the song ‘Hallelujah’ by Miss World BVI 2013, Kirtis Kassandra Malone and were also offered a guided tour of the building.
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27 Responses to “Residents will not be disappointed with New Peebles Hospital – Hon. Skelton”
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