No Hospital for Virgin Gorda just a larger Clinic - Premier Smith
Premier Smith told this to reporters yesterday afternoon May 29, 2014 at press conference called to bring reporters up to date with the current and recent development in the Territory.
The question about the expansion of the health facility in Virgin Gorda was put to the Premier after he spoke of the forward movements of the basketball facility on that Island.
“The specs of that proposed building has been completed and it will be soon out to tender so that persons who are interested in taking on that project would be able to do so,” said Premier Smith.
He could not say definitely when the project would get off the ground. “We expect to get something started this year of not this year certainly next year,” he told reporters.
Premier Smith blushed as the question as to whether it would be a hospital constructed or an extended clinic. “It will not be a hospital with sixty beds, it will be a larger clinic with facilities for out-patients to stay in the clinic,” he said.
“Some people say it’s a mini hospital, some say it’s difficult to really place but essentially it would be expanding the Iris O’Neal Clinic to be able to offer more services...”
It has been a long cry and call from residents of Virgin Gorda and other neighbouring islands for bigger more advanced health care facilities there. Many are of the opinion that there is need for a fully equipped hospital on the island as the shuttle systems to the Peebles Hospital in many cases compromise emergency cases, sometimes resulting in deaths.
On the other hand the Premier acknowledged that while the keys for the new Peebles Hospital facility were handed over to the Ministry of Health some months ago, it is not yet known when the building will be opened for public use.
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