Emergency Room of New Hospital Has Ground Level Entrance 

Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC

Confirmation of this came from the Minister of Health and Social Development Honourable Dancia Penn, OBE, QC, during the Tenth Sitting of the First Session of the First House of Assembly of the Virgin Islands held last Tuesday, July 22.

While responding to a question from the Leader of the Opposition, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, OBE, the Minister indicated that direct access to the Accident and Emergency Room by the ambulance or any other vehicle will be via the hospital’s northeast entrance on Porter’s Road.
 
“The third floor location provides ground-floor access that is just one floor below the surgical theatres and wards,” she told the House.

The Minister highlighted the importance of response time, patient stabilisation, and access to medical care, especially in cases that

The access road which would lead to the Accident and Emergency Room of the New Peebles Hospital is currently under construction. Photos by GIS/Doron Hodge

The Minister further noted that the new Peebles Hospital will improve on the current arrangements for handling medical emergencies.

“To leave the Accident and Emergency Room in the present location after the New Peebles Hospital is in use would have required an additional journey through hallways in order to access the elevator to the surgical theatres and wards on the fourth floor of the new hospital,” she said.

The Minister told the House there are several other benefits associated with the decision to locate the Accident and Emergency Room on the third floor of the new hospital. 

These, she noted, include having a more secure and faster access from the Accident and Emergency Room to surgical theatres and wards on the fourth floor, and the more economical use of space in the entire building.

“There is also closer and more immediate access to the other services and facilities in the New Hospital such as imaging, laboratory, and related services,” Honourable Penn told the House.  ~~Adz:Left~~

In January 2007 the Government signed a $63.9 million contract with the company Mirsand-Carimex-Quantum for the construction of the new Peebles Hospital. Work on the project, which is being supervised by the Ministry, commenced in March 2007 and under the contract was to have been completed in September 2007. It is now expected to be completed by May 2009.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development works to provide leadership that promotes health, social wellbeing, and a safe environment as positive resources for living and sustainable development. Among other things, the Ministry is responsible for safeguarding and promoting the health and social development of the Territory.