158 years of existence

IT IS with profound pleasure that I bring greetings from the office of the chief executive officer. The Linstead Public Hospital has been around for well over 100 years. However, we are celebrating 100 years of continuous service.

An exploration of The Gleaner’s archives revealed that the hospital was established in the 1800s. Further research of the Spanish Town archives, revealed that the hospital was established in January of 1859 which would mean that the hospital is in its 158th year of existence. I believe that is a tremendous milestone and I am very elated to be part of this welldeserved celebration.

It was an arduous and continuous struggle for the hospital to remain relevant over the past century, but through it all, she held her ground and continues standing. Oh, what resilience to be relevant even after 100 years!

Patients, staff, and community members alike are embracing the refreshing winds of change and we expand as improve. The redevelopment of this noble institution is something positive for the Linstead environs and Jamaica’s healthcare

system on a whole.

I laud my predecessors and as the current leader, I stand with the team, challenging and encouraging us to dig even deeper in our spirit of empathy and knowledge in the field of healthcare, to deliver that which we are called to do. Gone are the days when patients relied on their caregiver solely for health information. They are armed with information and demand the very best from us. Therefore, we must not be daunted in this era; instead, we must embrace it and serve with pride. Though we may not be able to satisfy all the medical needs of a patient, each patient that is touched by our hands must feel that touch in a positive way.I salute all the members of staff, our vibrant stakeholders and all those who rely on the services we offer. We commit to continuing to be a health care facility of excellence. CAMILE WALLEN-PANTON Chief Executive Officer, Linstead Public Hospital