Spanish Town Hospital modernisation to improve patient care
Jan. 16, 2024
Ground broken for new six-storey facility
KINGSTON, Jamaica. Tuesday, January 16, 2024: Medical services at the Spanish Town Hospital are set to be transformed with the redevelopment of the 430-bed facility, marked today, Tuesday (January 16) by the ground breaking ceremony held on the hospital’s grounds.
The renovation works, valued at some $5.5 billion Jamaican dollars, will see the building of a state-of-the-art, six-storey facility spanning more than 17, 000 square metres.
As a result, patient care delivery at the facility will expand to new services including urology, oncology, cardiology, gastroenterology, ophthalmology, and psychiatry.
It will be equipped with cutting-edge technology including electronic access to patient medical records.
The move is in keeping with making available reliable and modern infrastructure for health service delivery, a goal articulated in the Ministry of Health and Wellness’ Vision For Health 2030 Ten-Year Strategic Plan.
“The Government of Jamaica is determined to transform the health system for patients and their families, but also, critically, for the health staff who make it possible to deliver care to the many thousands who visit this and other facilities islandwide,” said Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. The Hon. Christopher Tufton.
“The works slated for Spanish Town Hospital, under the Health Systems Strengthening Programme, which brings us here today, helps us to make that transformation,” the Minister continued.
Redevelopment of the Spanish Town Hospital is being implemented by the Government of Jamaica through financial support of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). A total of USD $148 million dollars has been allocated for the Health Systems Strengthening Programme, of which the Government of Jamaica has committed USD $87 million dollars.
Spanish Town Hospital – the largest ‘type B’ facility in the island, will receive the largest investment in infrastructure works.
State-of-the-Art Facility
The new building will include an Accident and Emergency Wing on its ground floor, alongside an Ambulance Bay; Triage and Consultation rooms; and lounge areas for medical staff.
The ground floor will also feature the Radiology Department, equipped with MRI, X-Ray and CT Scan Rooms, among other diagnostic services. Outpatient Services, Endoscopy Unit, a Surgical Suite and an Intensive Care Unit will also form part of the redeveloped facility.
Six operating theatres with all the necessary services will be among the resources. Multiple general wards, and special wards, including Isolation Rooms will be on the facility.
The facility will also boast a separate wing for laboratory services including Immunology, Haematology, Serology Labs and Blood Collection Centre.
The infrastructural works will position the hospital to improve its efficiency and quality of care while further meeting the growing demands of services.
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