Female ward at St Ann's Bay hospital to be improved

More than J$70 million have been set aside to improve the female medical ward at the St. Ann’s Bay Regional Hospital.
The expansion should increase the hospital’s overall bed capacity by 20 percent.
The contract signing took place on Friday on the grounds of the facility. Based on the plans, there will be the construction of 47 additional rooms for adult females.
   

It will also allow for improved accommodation of patients and a reduction in crowding of the Accident and Emergency department.
There will also be a separation of patients who require mental health intervention from those with general medical complaints, and patients will now be able to remain in hospital for the period required for their recovery in keeping with international standards of care.
   

Health Minister Dr. Fenton Ferguson said there has been an increase in demand for adult medical services in the region, and this has led to unorthodox means of accommodating in-patients.
  

Currently close to forty seven percent of the patients being held in the Emergency Room are mainly for those destined for the Female Medical Ward.  
The project which is expected to be completed in approximately eight months, also includes the creation of two on call rooms for doctors, a conference room, a staff room, a sisters’ office and a medical department.