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.
