Work being done at May Pen Hospital

Major infrastructure works are under way at May Pen Hospital.

Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Christopher Tufton, outlined the improvements during a tour of the facility in Clarendon, last Friday. He noted that the hospital is operating beyond its designed capacity.

"This hospital is originally 170 beds but I am told that sometimes the demand goes up to 250 beds or even more in some instances when you have the rush," the minister said.

"The population expansion in Clarendon, as well as in St Catherine and maybe as far as St Ann along the borders, places a lot more pressure on this facility," he continued.

Among the key works in progress are upgrades to the emergency driveway and staff parking, which are part of a broader car park relocation effort. Two new car parks have been constructed at a cost of approximately $180 million. The original car park, he noted, will become the site of a proposed outpatient specialist clinic, which is awaiting Cabinet approval.

"I'm hoping that over the next week or so, subject to Cabinet's approval, is a $600-million-plus award of a contract to build a new outpatient specialist clinic," the minister said. Work is also progressing on the hospital's perimeter wall, which is being carried out in phases, to enhance the security of the facility.

"All told, it will be about $100 million because we need to secure the premises. And that is going to be continued in the months to come," Tufton said. The minister also mentioned plans to expand bed capacity through a proposed $25-million investment, as well as efforts to strengthen staffing.