Savanna-la-Mar hospital upgrade well under way

WESTERN BUREAU: WHILE SEVERAL expansion and restoration projects at the Savannala-mar Hospital in Westmoreland are still incomplete, patients and visitors will now find it easier to access and navigate the facility’s compound.

Dr Ken-Garfield Douglas, the regional director of the Western Regional Health Authority, gave an update on Monday regarding the upgraded work being done at the Type B hospital, which has been budgeted at a total cost of $24 million.

“The paving of the Savanna-la-mar Hospital’s car park and roadways to provide easier navigation on the compound, the expansion of the waiting area for laboratory services, and a separate entry and exit for better management of vehicles entering and exiting the compound have been completed,” said Douglas.

“Regarding the upgrade and expansion of the laboratory facility, three retrofitted containers are now in place and the laboratory space has been doubled.”

However, at least three aspects of work at the hospital, to include the fencing of the facility’s sewage plant, are yet to be completed.

“A contract has been issued for the fencing of the sewage plant, and there are contract issues regarding the repainting of the external walls of the hospital. Also, work is to begin soon for an upgrade to all pantry areas and the provision of staff lunchroom facilities,” said Douglas.

The work being done at the facility is among improvements which were outlined in December, when it was announced that plans were being drafted to construct a new block in order to address space shortage. The new block, which has been slated for this year and could potentially be budgeted at $300 million, would increase the hospital’s bed count to 300.