Hospital to spend $500k on new A/C
(CNS): The Health Services Authority is about to begin a major multi-million dollar capital project to upgrade the George Town hospital. The first phase will start with the replacement of the air-conditioning and chiller system. Officials told CNS that the work to replace the system and upgrade the existing infrastructure to accommodate the modernisation will cost $500,000, which is coming from the authority’s own capital budget, despite the hospital’s ongoing financial challenges.
Officials said in a press release that the first phase will see “modern state-of-the-art chillers” installed to begin the much needed upgrade. HSA Board Chair Jonathan Tibbetts said the approval of the significant increase in the authority’s capital budget reflects its commitment to continued investments in infrastructure improvements, new technology and other resources to support the delivery of high-quality healthcare.
“We are confident that the HSA has some of the best clinical staff in healthcare, but the delivery of healthcare requires a modern and sustainable infrastructure that provides a welcoming environment to our patients as well as equipment and technology that optimizes diagnosis, patient care and clinical outcomes,” Tibbetts said.
“Our investments in capital improvements are all about providing the best experience for all patients at all HSA facilities. One of those initiatives is the modernisation of our existing chiller or cooling system,” he added.
The new chillers will be more energy efficient, with lower operating and maintenance costs and the capacity to accommodate the hospital’s growing footprint. Work will begin on 16 November to replace the existing chillers and will take some three years.
HSA CEO Lizzette Yearwood said the work would not impact the HSA’s daily operations but the public should be aware of the heavy equipment onsite during the period of installation and follow all safety signs and instructions. Yearwood said contingency arrangements and temporary cooling capacity will ensure continued reliable ventilation to all areas of the hospital in the event of any unforeseen challenges.
The new chillers will be installed by Otis Air, following a public tender, and they are expected to significantly reduce electricity costs when the project is fully completed.
Shannon Richards, service manager and project leader for the programme, said they will also offer “smoother temperature control not possible with the original chillers”, and be more environmentally friendly than the old system. She said this was a key part of the HSA’s strategic goal to engage in reducing global warming through technology and building systems that are focused on reducing the impact of emissions.
Chairman of the board’s Infrastructure Subcommittee Rolston Anglin said the major multi-year modernisation programme will include the transformation of patient rooms, expansion of the Accident & Emergency Department to improve patient flow and reduce waiting times, as well as other significant changes being planned to improve access and services at the HSA.
More details regarding these improvement initiatives will be released in future, he added.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Government Finance, Health, Medical Health, Politics
I am not being picky but my gripe is not the building nor the food etc but we have too many staff from the same Country. This is throughout the entire hospital. It is like our churches. Not a chance in hell for the poor Caymanian.
Which they would give some of the lower level employees such as the housekeepers, janitors and the Porters a raise in pay. Have a friend thats been there from the original hospital and who hasnt had a raise in more than years prior to the cost of living increase of 5% in 2018. Cayman is at the top 10 of the most expnsive places to live in the world!
The greater need is to improve the quality of medical care.
New floors and a paint job could do wonders
So typical, just goes to show that no matter what happens, some people will never be pleased.
Additionally, CNS has put their typical negative caption to a positive for our people. Every other need outlet has stated it in a positive manner yet CNS continues to negatively sensationalize a positive for everyone.
Thank you HSA for at least beginning to try to improve infrastructure works. I agree that there is plenty to be done, but the work must start somewhere. Looking forward to what the next phases will be.
CNS: Stop being silly. This is a factual report. If you’re reading it as negative, that’s in your head, not in the article.
How about spending that to improve the current pharmacy at the hospital which has long outgrown its usage.
I like drugs
maybe they should get all their “broken equipment” fixed first!
hopefully they get all those live..soil based plants outa there?harbouring mold and other bacteria….
Is this real ? I could not do a stress test via needle ,cause they don’t have a room in the cardiologist area to do so ,they have to use a room upstairs somewhere else ,,,meanwhile most of the time the ER area is always filled and no beds to put people.why can’t this GOV, put the horse before the cart God help us if we ever have a plane crash here,,,,,,I pray not.
The hospital needs to fix the broken/garbage meals they’re serving! I wouldn’t give the food they serve to my dog. Imported frozen tilapia served with frozen veggies and instant mashed potatoes!? Seriously, how in the hell are sick people supposed to get better eating that shit!? And why the hell are they serving every meal with disposable single use plastic cutlery when we should be trying to minimize waste!?
They’re too busy with their pro-port propaganda campaign! They are neglecting everything important and shoving something that we don’t want down our throats! CIG and the health minister should be ashamed.
Dart must be thrilled that he is no longer to blame for everything. Now it is the government and their pro-port agenda that is public enemy #1 on CNS.
Or perhaps someone on this site can find a way to blame Dart for the A/C upgrade that is actually a positive in my opinion (although the first 8 comments on this story were all negative).
First person to blame Dart for this positive upgrade (that will apparently ruin lives for some reason) in 3 moves or less wins.
You haven’t tried food in American hospital yet. Unless you take it with stool softener you are in big trouble.
I thought food was pretty good in Cayman hospital (in 2011)
A chilling tale.
I have always thought the temperatures inside the hospital were too cold now we are going to need overcoats!.
Concur. Sat in the ER and pretty much froze. No wonder it costs so much, they keep the temps at 45 F.
It’s kept cold to prevent germs and viruses spreading.
That’s not a very good business model.
This is a global practice numpty.
Still, less patients = less revenue. Not a good business model.
Wrong. It’s a great business model for our public hospital because no one pays their bills 😉
11.36am It doesn’t stop them spreading in the British winter, flu germs could not care less how cold it is.
Some ppl dnt understand that bacteria and viruses thrive in warm temperatures, hence the reason the a/c is always so cold. Maybe they should cut the bloody thing off and then when there is outbreak of some sort at the hospital due to warm temps allowing bacteria or some other virus or viruses to form or spread and see what will be said about that! Sometimes ppl need to think b4 they say some thing.
Viruses live longer cold surfaces. Winter season = Flu season.