Ground Broken For $100 Million Expansion Of Linstead Hospital

Minister of Health, Hon. Horace Dalley, on Thursday (November 26) broke ground for the renovation and expansion of the Accident and Emergency (A&E) Department of the Linstead Hospital in St. Catherine.

The project is to be undertaken at a cost of over $100 million, with the majority of the funds, amounting to $76.4 million, to be spent on refurbishing works and addition of space to improve service offerings.

The remainder of the funds will go towards equipping and installing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in the department.

The scope of work will include addition of waiting and parking areas, nebulisation station, examination bays and triage area.

Also  included is the realignment of the ambulance bay;  work on the roof, ceilings, walls and floors; installation of doors and windows; plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical installation; public address system; fittings; landscaping; fencing; and drainage installation.

Minister Dalley, in his address, said that while the Government remains committed to improving the infrastructure of health facilities, “that by itself cannot deliver quality health care. We must have compassion, empathy and love and care for our people.”

He noted that much of the care patients receive involves the “human touch. A lot of it is the care that the nurse gives, the kind word from the doctor, the kind word from the porter, from the pharmacist.”

“Let us re-energise ourselves, re-motivate ourselves to ensure that we give the best (quality of care) to our people,” the Minister implored.

The Linstead Hospital is a major referral centre for Spanish Town, Kingston Public, National Chest hospitals and the Bustamante Hospital for Children. The Type C facility sees about 30,000 patients annually.

The renovation of the department is being undertaken by Chin’s Construction Limited, through funding by the National Health Fund (NHF).