Nuttall Memorial Hospital, which started a $250 million upgrade of its facilities in 2011, indicates that its new accident and emergency unit is now open to serve patients. CEO Harvey Levers says that revenue for the health service company is expected to improve as a result.

In 2011 the Anglican Diocese of Jamaica and Grand Cayman, owners of Nuttall, announced a new development plan for the hospital.

The hospital is a 50-bed facility, operated through the Nuttall Memorial Hospital Trust Ltd. Located in the heart of Cross Roads, St. Andrew, it was built in 1923 to honour the memory of Archbishop Enos Nuttall, a revered church leader.

In 2011, The Trust entered into what was described as a Smart Partnership Agreement with Dr Ian Neil, orthopaedic and spine surgeon, and Medical Technologies Ltd, an equipment supply company.

The agreement envisioned skilled surgeons providing service in state-of-the art operating theatres with Nuttall’s leadership, with the intention of positioning Nuttall as a Centre of Excellence in the Caribbean.

Other aspects of the development plan included upgrading of equipment, rooms, infrastructure, and the introduction of additional facilities and services.

Current CEO Harvey Levers told the

Jamaica Observer that the renovation process is still ongoing and “will take a while as the entire complex is earmarked for renovation”. However, the Accident & Emergency unit is now open.

Levers told the

Caribbean Business Report, “The A & E is usually the feeding tree for most hospitals. Patient admissions to the operating theatre and wards usually originate via an A & E.”

He noted that the hospital has struggled for more than five years without such a unit, and “now that it is reopened we expect our occupancy to increase with time as the public becomes more aware of the existence of a choice.”

The unit was rebuilt over an 18-month period. It is now operating seven days per week from 7 am until 7 pm.

Levers said that concurrently the hospital is also upgrading “various essential items of equipment in our operating theatre and also in our X-ray unit which is now digital in keeping with technology upgrades.”

He indicated that a planned capital injection over the coming 12 months should “significantly ease the cash flow burdens which are faced daily and allow for renovation and expansion whilst concurrently meeting working capital demands.”

“Overall profitability to our operations is expected within the 2017 fiscal year if all our plans materialise,” the CEO stated.