Work begins on redevelopment of Spanish Town Hospital

By Halshane Burke    

 

Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton says work has started on the multi-billion dollar redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital in St. Catherine.

 

Ground was broken for the construction work in January but the actual start of work was delayed.

 

The renovation works, valued at some $5.5 billion, covers construction of a state-of-the-art, six-storey facility.

 

Patient care delivery at the facility is expected to incorporate new services including urology, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and psychiatry.

 

Dr. Tufton says the contractors have started the process of excavating the foundation. 

 

"They had to complete some preparatory work for the facilities, so they had to build out the cubicles for the contractor and his workers. They put a police post there to ensure levels of security. They had to coordinate some logistics with the hospital in terms of movement in and out. So it did take a little while, maybe a little longer than I was hoping," the minister explained, adding that there was further delay when equipment, including cranes, had to be brought in. 

 

"I expect that over the next couple of weeks you're going to see a lot more activity there. I think the contractors reassured us that they are prepared to use nightlights, if possible, to catch up where they think they may have had delays. So I'm confident up to this point that they will move in earnest to get it sorted," said Dr. Tufton.