HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh announced that the former Augustus Long Hospital (ALH)  will become the new oncology centre of the San Fernando General Hospital.

Deyalsingh made this announcement when he addressed the opening of the San Fernando Parkade at King's Wharf, San Fernando on Tuesday.

The hospital formerly belonged to now-defunct state oil company Petrotrin.

He disclosed that agreement was reached with Energy Minister Stuart Young and Heritage Petroleum Ltd for the hospital to be transferred to the South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA), which has jurisidiction over the SGFH.

"Cabinet has already sanctioned the transferring of the ALH to the SWRHA."

Heritage is one of four companies under the Trinidad Petroleum Holdings Ltd group which emerged after Petrotrin's closure in November 2018.

Deyalsingh said the ALH would eventually be the new oncology centre of the SFGH "where cancer patients can be treated in dignity."

He added the hospital would also include a form of palliative care, similar to what happens at the St James Medical Centre.

Palliative care is medical care provided for terminally ill patients and their families.

Deyalsingh said, "So people at their end of life can say farewell to life and farwell to friends and family in dignity, surrounded by caring professionals."

He said once the exisiting oncology centre at SFGH was decanted, the ALH would take over its functions.

He also said plans were on the cards in the next fiscal year to do other improvements at SFGH.

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