SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Health and Wellness Minister Dr Christopher Tufton has announced that, within a few days, he will be unveiling a plan for what he described as the largest-ever expansion of the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital in this parish.

According to Tufton, the move is not a sweetener as Jamaicans get ready to go to the polls.

A general election is due by the second half of this year.

“This is not just election talk… In two weeks’ time, we will come back. We are going to invite some of you and others. The architectural designers are completed; the costs are completed,” stated Tufton.

He was addressing a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Westmoreland Central worker’s awards ceremony held at Sean Lavery Hall in Savanna-la-Mar on Sunday.

“We are going to build on the land next to A&E [accident and emergency], right on the hospital compound, a very large, new accident and emergency area for our people,” Tufton assured.

The health minister said the existing A&E section will be converted to add more beds for people waiting and will mean better service from the institution.

Tufton said the move is partly a result of leadership and representation by Member of Parliament George Wright, who is also a member of the governing JLP.

The hospital, which was officially opened to the public on July 24, 1964, is the only Type B institution that falls under management of Western Regional Health Authority (WRHA).