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Contact:
Claudia Monlouis
Wednesday, January 18, 2006 – Minister for Health Honourable Damian
Greaves has firmly dispelled what he has described as serious misconceptions
suggesting the imminent closure of the Dennery Hospital.
Minister Greaves who is also Parliamentary Representative for the area says a
new plan to redevelop the Dennery Hospital is under way and much investment has
been injected into ensuring that a high level of health care is delivered to
patients.
In 2003 patient admissions at the hospital was discontinued due to
infrastructural shortcomings. However officials of the hospital say there is a
full compliment of staff and all clinics are still operational. Where required,
patients are referred to the Victoria Hospital for admission. The Dennery
Hospital was originally a 22 bed facility, housing at some 200 stay over
patients.
The Health Minister also said the future of the Dennery Hospital will be the
subject of a community consultation to be held on the 8th of February 2006. The
consultation will be led by a team from the Ministry of Health.
Speaking of the upcoming consultation the Minister says Government has already
mapped out a new vision for the Dennery Hospital. He says the plans were shaped
in keeping with the national goal of providing superior health delivery at all
health institutions island wide.
Minister Greaves says the plan will be presented to residents with a view to
considering their inputs on the way forward. The Minister also said the forum
will allow for the airing of any public difficulties on the status of the
hospital.
“ This hospital is down for complete review of its operations just as I am now
effecting that similar situation for Soufriere.” said Greaves.
The Minister says several areas of concern at the Dennery Hospital have been
addressed through recent infrastructural renovations to the Casualty area, the
Nurses Home and the addition of a newly constructed Dental Unit. He also said
the compliment of nursing staff has been augmented.
The Minister on Friday, January 13th, formally accepted a donation of a wheel
chair and a heart monitor from the Dennery /UK Association of Saint Lucia and
the friends of the Dennery Hospital. This equipment will be used at the Dennery
Hospital.
He said the donated equipment underscores the inaccuracy of current
speculations. The Minister says understandably such hearsay has been the cause
of concerns for the community members from Dennery to Mon Repos, who utilize the
services of the hospital.
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