Minister of Health Donville Inniss observes the roof of one section of the Geriatric Hospital which will be repaired under the physical upgrade project scheduled for the next financial year. Also looking on are Manager of the Hospital, Everton Alleyne (left)  and Chief Environmental Health Officer, Tyrone Applewaithe (centre).

Plans are on the cards for the physical upgrade of the Geriatric Hospital at Beckles Road in the coming financial year.

This was revealed by Health Minister Donville Inniss, following a familiarisation tour of that institution.  He said these would include refurbished wards, new kitchen facilities and the expansion of the institution’s day care facility, which currently accommodates 28 individuals.

“There are also plans to establish a sub acute ward, where we can help to relieve some of the pressure off the QEH, and provide that medical care here for those other folk who need it, and can be released from the QEH,” the  Minister said.

He also stressed the importance of rehabilitation and noted that such a unit would also be provided. “Some of these folk do have or are recovering from strokes and other physical ailments and we need to ensure that they are given the best possible rehabilitative care that we can get here in Barbados,” Mr. Inniss said.

Work is also expected to be undertaken soon on the hospital’s laundry facility; and additional equipment  has already been ordered, and is due to arrive in a few weeks.

While stating that the current expenditure on this health care institution stood at approximately $33 million, Minister Inniss said: “When you add to that, the expenditure of the three other district hospitals, and other elderly care programmes in the Ministry of Health, the Government of Barbados clearly expends close to $40 million, in any given year.”

The cost of the capital works programme for the Geriatric Hospital, in the coming financial year, is estimated at between three to five million dollars.

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