Chairman of the Poor Relief Committee of the St Ann Parish Council Councillor Lloyd Garrick has announced plans for major improvement work to begin at the St Ann Infirmary next month.

The work, he said, will be undertaken by two church-based charity groups from the United States and will include a major overall of the wards and the laundry area as well as replacement of the collapsing ceiling and other fixtures.

Garrick said one of the most exciting feature of the improvement work will be the construction of a ramp to allow both patients, confined to wheel chair and others, easy access to the rear of the premises and the small beach area.

“The ramp will be extended out into the sea with water-access with a pulley system attached to assist disabled patients to enjoy the therapeutic values of the sea,” he said.

The two groups which will be doing the work at the infirmary are Isle Go Mission Incorporated and Tiny Hope Children Home, both located in Jacksonville, Florida.

Plans for the project were presented at the monthly meeting of the St Ann Poor Relief Committee meeting held last Tuesday, and was unanimously approved by the members.

According to Garrick, the head of Isle Go Mission Inc Dusty Cooper said the groups will be providing the materials for the project along with work teams from overseas to get the job done.

Additional workers will be employed from the surrounding community.

In expressing his appreciation to the groups for selecting the infirmary as their project, Garrick said on completion he expects life to be much better for the residents of the institution.

The staff, he said, is also expected to find it more convenient to carry out their duties.

The St Ann Infirmary is located in Priory on a prime beach front property. Over the years concerns have been raised by many visitors to the institution about the lack of easy access to the beach by the residents, which it is believed could help them in recuperating from some illnesses.