Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com

Contract signed for BVI hospital renovation
01-17-2007

ROAD TOWN, BVI: The government of the British Virgin Islands has signed a contract for renovation work to Peebles Hospital and finishing works to the hospital extension.

Minister for Health and Social Development Ronnie Skelton recently signed the $3.6 million agreement with Road Runner Construction. Betteto Frett signed on behalf of the construction company.

Skelton says the contracted works will ease congestion and enhance patients’ experience while at Peebles Hospital.

“We have created space for expansion through the opening of the Peebles Hospital Extension. We now have to make the necessary physical adjustments to integrate both buildings and expand on some units. This will bring additional ease in movement, further relieve congestion, and ultimately enhance the hospital’s aesthetics,” he said.

Works included in the contract are the construction of a new Peebles Hospital Dietary Services Unit and an expansion on the Obstetric Unit both of which will occupy a large portion of the top floor of the hospital’s extension. The work will also include replacing the former Peebles Casualty Unit with more comfortable outpatient examination rooms and a larger outpatient seating area.

Skelton says he expects the works to be completed within 12 months and within budget, yet with minimal disruption to the flow of regular hospital operations.

He noted that contracted works comprise furnishing all plant, labour, equipment and materials, and performing all operations in connection with work to be executed work.

Government put in place one of the first steps to improve the quality of healthcare in the BVI when it opened the doors to the 29,000 square-foot Peebles Hospital Extension in June 2005. The project, which was originally referred to as the Annex, was one of its healthcare priorities.

The extension now houses an eight-bed accident and emergency trauma unit, a comprehensive diagnostic laboratory, a morgue, an eight-patient dialysis unit, an expanded imaging unit, several staff offices and conference rooms.