Noel Holmes Hospital upgrade at design stage, stakeholders excited

WESTERN BUREAU:

Carlington McLennon, the chief executive officer (CEO) at the Noel Holmes Hospital in Lucea, Hanover, says the plans for major improvements at the Type C hospital are about 80 per cent complete in relation to the design for the scope of work to be done.

“We have been working on it (the development plan) for the past two years,” said McLennon, who noted that the scope of work would involve a major overhaul of the hospital.

“It involves expanding the hospital from a 60-bed to a 120-bed facility, expanding services such as X-ray and laboratory, improvements in the waiting areas, dietary, laundry; it’s like we are revamping the current structure of the hospital and giving it a fresh and more modern look,” he added.

McLennon said the plan would include additional accommodation for staff, which is currently a major issue; and an up-to-date operating theatre, which will significantly improve the offerings of the hospital in relation to medical care.

“Most institutions have living quarters for their staff; unfortunately our living provision is very limited, so we are hoping that with additional accommodations it will create a pull effect for individuals to come to Noel Holmes to work,” he said.

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

According to McLennon, the development plan was created based on a mandate that was given to the management committee by the Ministry of Health & Wellness, which instructed that any plan being developed for the hospital must be comprehensive.

With respect to the development of the plan, McLennon said it would be done in two stages – the design stage and the costing stage.

“Once it reaches the costing stage, then we will know where we are in terms of whether the ministry is going to finance it, or we may have to get private sector support,” said McLennon, who noted that he was not yet able to determine a completion time for the two phases of the project.

Quizzed as to where he expects the classification of the hospital to fall when the project is completed, he noted that while hospitals are categorised as grades A, B, or C, he could not say what classification will be settled on.

“Where the Ministry of Health is moving to now is to have community hospitals, and if we are a community hospital then all the services that the developmental plan is going to offer would fit what a community hospital should be providing,” he emphasised. “So, if you are looking on it from that perspective, then, no, we are not going to be upgraded, we would just want to be recognised as a community hospital and, as such, provide the services that a community hospital should.”

Donovan Hamilton, the chairman of the hospital’s management committee, said the committee is fully supportive of the development plan to improve the hospital.

“If the work environment is toxic for workers or patients at the facility, it is not going to work. You want an environment where there is friendliness, where you feel at home, and you are comfortable,” said Hamilton, who further noted that improvements in the physical infrastructure at the facility will automatically bring an improvement in the behaviour of persons working there and using the facility.

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