One of the buildings of the new national hospital. Photo credit: www.elettricaste.com
The United Workers Party (UWP) has said that it will not support any move to statutorise the New National Hospital. This announcement was made today by Leader of the Opposition and UWP Deputy Leader Dr. Gale Rigobert.
Dr. Rigobert said that the UWP was surprised to hear two weeks ago that a bill would have been presented to the House of Assembly, which aims to have the New National Hospital replicate the St. Jude Hospital management model.
The opposition leader said all UWP MPs became concerned, especially since “all year we had several reports about the financial challenges confronting St. Jude that negatively affected its capacity to deliver the care that patients in this country deserves.”
“Are you saying that is the new model you will replicate at the new hospital or is it that the new hospital will be privatized,” she questioned. Dr. Rigobert said citizens should be warned that once the hospital is privatized, then the cost of health services will increase.
“What about the government’s responsibility to provide a basket of services and primary health services for its citizens? Will poor people have difficulty accessing health care,” she further questioned.
Dr. Rigobert said Health Minister Alvina Reynolds should be clear about her plans for the New National Hospital.
She said the minister should also ensure that whatever plans she has for the hospital; citizens are not further disadvantaged and left to endure hefty costs for medical care.
Construction of the new hospital started in January 2011. Equipment has been sourced from overseas for the hospital. However there is no confirmation, as to when the new hospital could be opened to the general public.
When opened, the hospital will have 200 beds. It will be equipped for inpatients, principal diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Following the opening, the Victoria Hospital will be decommissioned and reopened as the Castries Urban Polyclinic. When that happens, the Castries Health Centre will be closed permanently.