The Tribune

By DENISE MAYCOCK

Tribune Freeport Reporter

dmaycock@tribunemedia.net

HEALTH Minister Dr Perry Gomez announced on Monday that the Rand Memorial Hospital in Grand Bahama will undergo major renovations, resulting in increased bed capacity and a new private suite.

The project also includes renovations at the adjacent property of the former Island Palm Resort, where an improved hospital kitchen and cafeteria will be located.

The announcement was made at a press conference at RMH. The renovations are being carried out in preparation for the implementation of National Health Insurance (NHI) in 2016.

Lawrence Chisholm and Associates, an architectural design firm, has been engaged by the PHA and construction drawings will be completed in May.

An estimated cost of the renovation was not disclosed as plans and building permits will take a few months to complete before the project goes out to tender and a contract is awarded, officials said.

Dr Gomez said when the project is complete, the hospital will have increased its capacity by 19 beds, relocated and enhanced physiotherapy and occupational therapy departments, a new private suite for the first time, a new state of the art infectious disease department, and improved kitchen and cafeteria facilities.

The renovation, he added, is evidence of government’s commitment to improving the delivery and quality of healthcare in the country.

He noted that beginning in 2016, with the planned start of universal health insurance, every legal resident of the Bahamas, regardless of their means – will have access to health care from private and public doctors, clinics and hospitals.

The minister said that annual health care spending is almost double other countries in the region.

He said universal health coverage offered by an NHI programme will focus on improving health outcomes while also producing an annual saving of almost $160 million in 10 years.

“One key mandatory precursor to the implementation of NHI demands the achievement of a consistent standard of care across all of our public hospitals and clinics. It is against this backdrop that the (Ministry of Health) and the PHA are forging ahead with what when completed, will be the most aggressive renovation and enhancement project for the RMH in history,” said Dr Gomez.

Grand Bahama Minister Dr Michael Darville indicated that government is moving toward realising its strategic goals of enhancing public health infrastructure and delivering quality health care services in the northern Bahamas.

Dr Darville said the major renovations at the Rand will bring about improved health care services.

“The plans and building permits would be completed in a few months and immediately following the tender process, a contract would be awarded and the long awaited construction will begin,” he said.

“Today’s announcement about the major renovation at the Rand prove that we are definitely on the right track. I am confident that the Ministry of Health will continue to improve the delivery of health care for all residents of Grand Bahama,” he said.

Herbert Brown said that the relocation of the kitchen and café will free up areas for additional bed space, which will allow the hospital to achieve the proper standard of care.

“We are going by a particular standard for our wards going forward and will have no more than four patients to a unit – that is the standard to provide a greater level of privacy for our patients,” he said.

Secondly, he noted that the new private suite will be relocated to the eastern wing of the hospital.

The physiotherapy department will be relocated to space currently occupied by the administration offices.

“We want be able to consolidate all clinical spaces in order to make the services more efficient, which will result in a greater degree of productivity,” Mr Brown said.