Gov’t assessing equipment needs at VG medical centre
Minister of Health Marlon Penn said his ministry will assess the situation regarding outfitting the Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre in Virgin Gorda with proper equipment and seek to rectify the issue as quickly as possible.
While he was Opposition Leader, Penn said he was consistently receiving reports of issues plaguing the hospital. He noted that the main recurring issue was concerns regarding furnishing the hospital with the necessary tools to perform certain medical tasks.
When asked what the current update on the matter is since he is now the Health Minister, Penn said the position he had in Opposition remains the same.
“I believe the sister island needs to get the basics that they need to perform to get that institution running. Part of our assessment includes the Nurse Iris O’Neal Clinic in terms of our comprehensive assessment of the physical plants of our medical facilities so that we can make sure that at least the people in Virgin Gorda and on our sister islands get the care that they need and deserve,” the Health Minister said.
“I don’t want to say a timeframe now and you hold me to that but once the RFP (Request for Proposal) goes out and we get a response then I would be able to communicate to the public regarding a timeframe,” he added.
Earlier this month, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley asked for Virgin Gorda residents to be patient regarding the government’s plans to outfit the Nurse Iris O’Neal Medical Centre with the proper equipment and improve functionality for residents.
The Premier noted that Minister Penn had just assumed the role and is still getting acquainted with the portfolio and the different challenges of the health sector.
The Virgin Gorda-based facility officially opened in February 2020.
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How long ago was it opened with great fanfare? And still not equipped. Do they have no shame? Why arent VG residents more vocal in complaining at the lak of facilities?
@Lodger did you miss the point of the article where the government is now in the process of addressing the “la(c)k of facilities”?
could have equipped the VG clinic in 2020 or 2021 but Fahie wasted it on Withers to defend him in the CoI. Maybe this firm should donate some medical equipment to the VG clinic.
Opened before covid. I guess all that money wasted on the fancy building went into someone’s pocket. Is it actually possible, that ALL persons involved with the planning of the design and construction and the entire project, knew they were not factoring the equipment necessary for the Hospital to actually serve the people of Virgin Gorda?
Corruption once again. Who is responsible for the Project? Who didn’t make certain that the costs of equipment for the Clinic were included in the overall estimate of the project? Is this failure actually possible, or was that money spent wrongfully?
A criminal investigation needs to be done. Where is the money allocated for equipment? This can of worms needs to opened publicly.
Still?
We did this with Peebles, and had to beg for donations after overspending on the expansion. And, we did it again with VG clinic. We just don’t want to learn.
Both parties played a humongous part in the scandal and lies to the public. Letting people think that we have the state of the art hospital and clinic only to find out it’s just a frame. Millions of dollars spent and still nothing. When will this stop! No working cat scan machines, most surgeries have to be done in other health care facilities, 6 floor hospital and only 40 beds for a population of 35000 +. But as the sad story being said the ending is always politicians make the money and get fat and watch the people perish.
Clearly by the comments Peeps are in their coulda, woulda, shoulda feelings – way forward people!