The Central Block at the Port of Spain General Hospital could begin offering diagnostic services before the end of the year.
Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe says X-rays, CT scans and other radiology services are expected to form the first phase of operations, as work continues to prepare the facility to receive patients.
The long-awaited Central Block at the Port of Spain General Hospital is moving closer to operationalization, with diagnostic services expected to be introduced before the end of 2026.
Health Minister Dr. Lackram Bodoe says the building is nearing readiness, but additional work is required to ensure patients can safely access the facility.
“In the meantime, I mentioned we have to open this on a phased basis, so that does not prevent us from starting what you call diagnostic services, x-ray, radiology, CT scans and so on. So it’s going to be rolled out in a phased basis and I want to give the public the assurance that that will be opened and available to accommodate for their use.”
Dr. Bodoe says one of the challenges identified is the lack of a proper connection between the Accident and Emergency Department and the new building.
He says the current route would leave patients being transferred by wheelchair or trolley exposed to the elements, making improvements to the walkway necessary.
“One of the challenges we’ve met is that even though this is a brand new facility, there is no proper connection between the accident and emergency and this brand new building. When I toured the building, I realized that the pathway that patients would have to take, and can you imagine somebody leaving casualty on a wheelchair or trolley having to go through a pathway exposed to the elements and so on? So that is something that we have to fix.”
The Minister says the government intends to bring the facility into operation in phases, with the eventual aim of making all 540 beds available to patients.
He estimates that the transfer of clinical services could begin in the new year, with the initial phase accommodating approximately 350 to 400 patients.
The additional capacity is expected to help ease pressure on other public hospitals, including the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex and the St. James Medical Complex.