Rasbert Turner, Spanish Town
RESIDENTS OF Portmore were told yesterday that the dream of having a hospital in the municipality would soon become a reality as ground would be broken in January 2007.
Some 50 residents attending a meeting at the municipal council building were told that the hospital would be built at a cost of approximately US$40 million on a 50-acre property in Southborough, central Portmore.
According to Stacey Turwilger, director from the Cayjam Develop-ment Company which is undertaking the project, it will be a state-of-the-art facility with approximately 120 beds. Surgical, paediatric, ear, nose and throat, neurological, cardiology, oncology, plastic and cosmetic surgery, and general health services would be offered.
Those who questioned the cost were told that the developers, having completed the feasibility studies, would be in close dialogue with insurance providers to make the cost for treatment as low as possible. They were told that the nurse-patient ratio would be one to four, and in the case of the intensive care unit, there would be one nurse to every two patients.
NURSE-PATIENT RATIO
The developers told the gathering that they had also contacted the relevant environmental agencies and the new building was still subject to their approval.
Several persons who spoke with The Gleaner expressed joy at the new development. "We are very glad that Portmore is getting the much-needed service of a hospital, even though it is private. I hope that it will work out very well for us," said Novelette Cunningham.
Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, endorsed the new development, saying it was timely. He said, however, that Portmore is also currently short of water, but the plans that are in place should remedy that situation in 11 months.
