HEALTH Minister Terrence Deyalsingh said on Monday that British entities wish to get involved with aspects of the new central block at Port of Spain General Hospital. He was speaking to reporters at the on-site topping-off ceremony to mark the last pour of concrete for the rooftop, to complete the 13-storey block's superstructure.
"We are already getting expressions of interest from partners outside of TT, as they have heard of this – from England especially – to be a part of this project.
"So it has ignited something very, very significant in the medical fraternity not only here but abroad."
In his earlier speech, he described his hopes for the 540-bed block. "Its structure is not just for medical care but is testimony to how we are developing Port of Spain.
[caption id="attachment_1041680" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and Minister of Health Terrence Deyalsingh shovel cement during the topping-off ceremony of the new Central Block of the Port of Spain General Hospital. - Ayanna Kinsale[/caption]
"This structure is not only to provide medical care to people. It is a testament to how we are development Port of Spain and its environs – from pan theatres to the Ministry of Health head office, Diego Martin Health Centre and so on." He said the hospital would befit the name of Port of Spain.
"We are going to turn this campus into the region's premier teaching hospital. So it's not only a place for treatment but it is going to be a place of learning, a place of scholarship. That is what this structure represents today."
With the day marking the completion of package one, the superstructure, he told attendees that work on the remaining packages 2-6 was ongoing and in parallel.
He thanked the Prime Minister for attending, with the two men minutes later ascending in an elevator with site officials to visit the top floor.
Deyalsingh then told reporters the block should be fully open by March 2025, having previously merely said "the first quarter" of that year.
He said at this time the project was within budget, at $1.267 billion VAT-inclusive.
Asked if there was enough staff to fill the new facility when completed, he said the project has a commissioning plan and commissioning team which has been meeting for about a year. "We are working with training facilities like Costaat and all of those things to provide the manpower that you're going to need." However he said it will be done in a phased basis. "Everything will not open on the same day." He said any hospital commissioning should start slowly due the the fact of several bugs needing to be worked out. "You commission department by department."
He said teaching would be done by the University of the West Indies (UWI), Augustine. "Right now UWI runs what you call DM programmes. Those are postgraduate programmes – Doctor of Medicine – in 20 specialities. So we want to increase the up tick in those 20 specialities." He said the DM Oncology had begun since January. "As I keep telling the population, the shortage is no
