More Beds To Be Put In Place For COVID-19 Patients
By: , February 12, 2021
Photo: Michael Sloley
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (right), and Chairman of the South East Regional Health Authority (SERHA), Wenthworth Charles, view a section of the St. Joseph’s Hospital, in St. Andrew, while on a tour of the facility, today (February 11).
Photo: Michael Sloley
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton (second left); Project Manager at the Ministry, Scean Paraham (left), and Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew, Julian Robinson, in discussion while touring the St. Joseph’s Hospital, in St. Andrew, today (February 11).The Full Story
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says over the next two weeks, some 130 more beds for COVID-19 patients will be activated.
The Minister, who made the disclosure while on a tour of the St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Andrew on Thursday (February 11), said persons need to take their health seriously and be more responsible, as the recent spike in COVID-19 cases has a lot to do with bad behaviour.
He pointed out that if the increase in cases continues to soar, it will become more troubling for the public health system.
The Minister said he is more concerned now than before about bed space, and called on the population to heed the message.
The St. Joseph’s Hospital will shortly have 36 COVID beds, and the Minister said the facility is going to become “a welcome addition” for the care of severe COVID patients.
He noted that the hospital has received the seal of approval from the clinicians, “and we are at that stage where we can make it work”.
The Minister emphasised that if persons do not follow the health protocols and protect themselves, creating additional health facilities will not be sustainable.
St. Joseph’s Hospital is being prepared as a field hospital, to provide additional bed spaces to facilitate the treatment of persons with COVID-19.