#Kingston, Jamaica, January 16, 2020 — Construction of a 20 to 25-bed ward at the Bustamante Hospital for Children in Kingston, is to commence this year.
The
two-storey structure will house the hospital’s paediatric cardiac centre
patients, and an 18-bed overnight facility for parents of patients on the ward.
The
infrastructure development project, valued at $100 million, is being jointly
financed by the National Health Fund (NHF), which has donated $40 million, and
the National Housing Trust (NHT), $60 million.
During
a recent tour of the hospital’s paediatric cardiac centre, Health and Wellness
Minister, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, said construction of the ward is
intended to increase accommodation for children seeking services at the
specialist institution.
The
new facility is one of several being built on the hospital grounds to expand
and improve the services offered by this critical public healthcare facility.
Dr.
Tufton noted that construction of the new Drug Serv Pharmacy on site is part of
the improvements being made at the health facility. The pharmacy is to be constructed at a cost of more than $50
million, with funds provided by the NHF.
Additionally,
the High Dependency Unit (HDU), constructed under the PROMAC project and
financed by the European Union (EU), is to be handed over to the hospital
shortly.
Meanwhile, the Minister further noted that construction of the Western Region Children Adolescent Hospital, in Montego Bay, will assist in alleviating pressure on the Bustamante Hospital for Children.
For
her part, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Bustamante Hospital for
Children, Camile Wallen Panton said the new facilities are welcome, as the
hospital seeks to provide essential healthcare services to young patients in
the country and the region.
Mrs.
Wallen Panton pointed out that the paediatric cardiac centre has a 10-bed
Intensive Care Unit (ICU), but it does not have a dedicated ward for the
cardiac patients to facilitate pre- and post-care.
“What
now exists is that the child is admitted on our general medical ward. This ward
that is going to be built is going to allow nurses and doctors to admit and tend
to the cardiac patients on this ward, where they will be looked after until
they are ready to be discharged,” she explained.
Noting
that the current overnight facilities for parents of children admitted to the
hospital are limited to a six-bed suite, Mrs. Wallen Panton said the new
structure will provide increased accommodation for parents and support for
families during a “trying period”, particularly for those travelling long
distances to access the hospital’s services.