LUCEA, Hanover -- Custos of Hanover Dr David Stair has called for the bulldozing of the Noel Holmes Hospital, in Hanover.

"I would like to see these existing buildings bulldozed and a 21st century facility erected on the compound," Dr Stair said, arguing that the existing conditions there are "ridiculous and embarrassing."

" We need to look forward; we have outgrown these facilities and Jamaicans are now demanding quality and better health care," added Dr Stair, who is also a medical practitioner.

He was speaking last week at a press conference at the Noel Holmes hospital, following a tour of the facility with Lucea's mayor Lloyd Hill, Member of Parliament for Western Hanover Ian Hayles, representatives of the health sector and reporters.

Dr Stair comments came also, after Hayles-- in whose constituency the hospital falls-- pledged $20 million over the next three years to upgrade and provide much needed equipment at the facility.

According to Hayles, $6.5 million of the amount committed, will be disbursed to the facility within the next three months.

But Dr Stair, who has a private practice at Sandy Bay in Hanover, said the existing facility at Noel Holmes is bursting at it seams, and is overtaxed.

"We there need to go back to the drawing board because we need to have a nice modern facility, and if we do, we can attract proper staffing to provide quality health care," he later told the Observer West.

The 38 bed-Noel Holmes hospital, a Type C facility, is located mid-way the resort areas of Montego Bay, St James and Negril.

According to Parish Manager at the Hanover Health Services, Verlie James the hospital main function is to stabilise and transfer patients, if necessary.

"In that regards, we need to have a facility that can speak to this situation, but right now we are a far cry from what is desired," James told reporters.

Checks carried out by the Observer West have revealed that a number of the buildings at the facility are badly in need of repairs and painting.

These include the Accident and Emergency Department, as well as the administrative block.

The facility also needs a perimeter fencing and a slew of critical equipment including portable and rechargeable suction machines, beds and a defibrillator.

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