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The T&T Registered Nurses Association (TTRNA) and T&T Medical Association are supporting (TTMA) the Health Ministry’s view against retrofitting the Port-of-Spain General Hospital’s Central Block to use it again.
Unanimous views against retro-fitting and re-occupancy of the block arose at a meeting yesterday which the Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh held with T&TRNA and T&TMA heads and the North West Regional Health Authority.
Patients from the Central Block were relocated to other parts of the hospital following last week’s 6.9 magnitude earthquake.
A press release from the ministry afterwards reaffirmed commitment to the construction of a new 540-bed patient tower to replace the now decanted Central Block. The TTRNA and the TTMA were presented with two options for consideration:
• The retrofitting of the Central Block to make it appropriate for re-occupancy.
• Identification and re-purposing of clinical spaces within the compound of the Port-of-Spain General Hospital and the St. James Medical Complex.
The release stated, “In the interest of patient and staff safety, the Minister passionately expressed disagreement with the retrofitting option. However, in completeness of the option-analysis, he presented it to the stakeholders for consideration. The Minister’s position was supported and reaffirmed by the president of the TTRNA and the TTMA’s head.”
The release said discussions subsequently focused on moving ahead with the second option of re-purposing clinical space.
“This focused on three buildings on the compound of the General Hospital Port-of-Spain: a four-storey building; a two-storey building; the single-storey Allied Building; as well as available space at the St James Medical Complex. Collectively, it’s estimated these spaces can accommodate 300 in-patients.”
It added that all clinical services previously housed at the Central Block continue to operate at this time. (Gail Alexander)