Ground was broken for the Critical Care Block at The Princess Margaret Hospital back in 2011 and while the building is complete it is still not in operation after facing several delays and setbacks, but Public Hospital Authority (PHA) Managing Director Hubert Brown said a date has been set but officials are awaiting Cabinet approval.
Mr. Brown also announced that the government has finalised a $35 million loan agreement with CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank for the purchase of equipment and furniture.
“The FirstCaribbean Bank and the Public Hospital Authority with the support of the government would have approved the $35 million loan for the procurement of the equipment and furniture and also management information systems,” he said. “I’m also able and pleased to tell you that we have placed orders for the equipment and the furniture.
“In fact a significant amount of money would be spent over the course of the next couple of weeks; in fact some $16 million would have been spent in the last week.”
And with this new building will come opportunities for employment.
Mr. Brown said nearly 100 people are already on that shortlist.
“Some 86 persons would have already been offered employment for the Critical Care Block,” he added. “We expect to receive the confirmation and we have already gotten some acceptance on those offers so we are very advanced in the commissioning of the Critical Care Block.”
While PHA officials have so far cleared several hurdles in the new hospital wing off the ground, there is still no specific timeline for an opening date.
“A date has been decided but the Cabinet of The Bahamas will have to approve that date for the commissioning, that information has been sent to the minister for him to consult with his colleagues and as soon as we get the confirmed date we will advise you.”
The $100 million facility will have a new central sterile department; 18 recovery beds, 20 private Intensive Care Unit (ICU) rooms, 48 neonatal intensive care unit beds, new lab facilities, upgraded administrative facilities and a new main entry into the facility that is accessible to the disabled community.
