Just over $1 million is being pumped into the Geriatrics Hospital at the Sandilands Rehabilitation Centre to redevelop the decades old facility, health officials announced yesterday.
The proposed upgrades and expansion will not only improve the quality of the physical infrastructure, but will also positively impact the quality of life for those who reside at the Geriatric Hospital.
According to Minister of Health Dr. Hubert Minnis, the government has earmarked just over $1.3 million for the renovation and expansion of the 44-year-old facility.
The investment represents the largest single investment for the upgrade and upkeep of the facility.
On Thursday, the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) signed a contract with Cornerstone Builders Company Limited (Ltd.) to carry out numerous upgrades to the facility, including the construction of four purpose-built bathroom suites for the Crucik-Shank, Thompson, McClenne and Culmer Wards.
The new bathroom facilities will include wet-rooms, inclusive of showers, toilets, washbasins, and specialty tubs suitable for elderly and disabled persons, the minister said.
In addition, Dr. Minnis said the new bathroom facilities will include single disabled assisted toilet facilities, sluice and waste disposal facilities, a staff lounge and toilet and a storage facility.
The significant upgrades, he said, would improve the workflow process, space utilization, sanitation and ambience to alleviate excessive congestion and to enhance privacy.
Dr. Minnis said the upgrades would not only benefit patients at the facility, but improve conditions for staff as well.
"I am advised that we have residents who have been here for up to 20 years and to add to their already vulnerable situation, they hardly, if ever, get visits from their relatives," Dr. Minnis said.
"That is why it is so important for my government to give these residents a sense of belonging and provide them with the best care that we can in this the twilight of their lives."
Thursday’s contract signing marked the third by the PHA in the last month to expand and improve the quality of service offered to the Bahamian people.
Prior to yesterday’s contract signing, the PHA spent over $1.2 million to upgrade the electrical capacity of the facilities at the Geriatrics Hospital.
Dr. Minnis said for the first time in the hospital’s history, the residents and staff can now experience the comfort of air conditioning throughout the center. This, he said, is a major accomplishment since staff and patients had to endure significant discomfort during the hot summer months.
"[This recent investment] underscores my government’s ongoing commitment to the Bahamian people to expand and upgrade our aging and undersized health facilities, as well as the importance my government places on healthcare in our country," he said.
- Austin DWI - New York DWI