KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, May 7, 2024: The multibillion-dollar rehabilitation of the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH), which is to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose facility, is closing on the finish.
This is the update from the Minister of Health & Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton who told Parliament during his Sectoral presentation on Tuesday (May 7), that to date, some $3.5 billion had been spent on all three phases of the rehabilitation work.
“We have now commenced the third and final phase with an additional J$5.81 billion to be spent this year. Designs are complete and works have commenced to put in the ward space and other internals to the reinforced and expanding building,” the Minister said.
“CRH will become the premiere hospital in Jamaica and the region, with new wards, new beds, new equipment, new staff accommodation. And very importantly, we will ensure, this time, that we have adequate maintenance so that we never go back to where we were, due to the legacy of neglect and complacency over many decades,” Dr. Tufton added.
Work at CRH forms a part of a major transformation of health facilities islandwide, with the Ministry of Health & Wellness leading on the largest building and renovation of hospital and health centre infrastructure upgrade on record.
WESTERN CHILDREN
The construction of the Western Children and Adolescents Hospital, WCAH, forms a part of those efforts.
“The construction of WCAH is at 54% complete; the primary structure for both the main building and staff apartments are complete, while work is continuing on the secondary structure, such as the internal partition walls,” the Minister told Parliament.
“When this facility is completed, it will boast 220 beds, five operating theatres and twelve specialities to include Neonatology; Paediatrics; Paediatric Cardiology; Paediatric Nephrology; Haematology/Oncology; Paediatric Surgery; Urology; Neonatal Surgery; Critical Care- Paediatrics; Paediatric Emergency Medicine; Adolescent Medicine and, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry,” Dr. Tufton added.
“When combined, CRH and Western Children and Adolescents Hospital will create the highest concentration of hospital beds and specialties in the Caribbean region. This will pave the way for better patient care, staff satisfaction, training and possibly health tourism. We must keep moving,” the Minister noted.